Effects of Acidic Environments on Dental Structures after Bracket Debonding

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2022-12, Vol.23 (24), p.15583
• Main Authors: Iosif, Cristina, Cuc, Stanca, Prodan, Doina, Moldovan, Marioara, Petean, Ioan, Badea, Mîndra Eugenia, Sava, Sorina, Tonea, Andrada, Chifor, Radu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid resistance; Acids; Acrylic Resins; Adhesion; Adhesives; Atomic force microscopy; Beverages; Bond strength; Brackets; Cement; Chromium; Composite materials; Composite Resins; Debonding; Dental Bonding; Dental enamel; Dental erosion; Dental plaque; Dental restorative materials; Enamel; Erosion resistance; Evaluation; Exposure; Fluorides; Humans; Ionomers; Materials Testing; Morphology; Oral hygiene; Orthodontic Brackets; Orthodontics; Polishing; Resin Cements - chemistry; Resins; Saliva; Scanning electron microscopy; Shear strength; Soft drinks; Surface Properties; Surface roughness; Teeth
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415583

Brackets are metallic dental devices that are very often associated with acidic soft drinks such as cola and energy drinks. Acid erosion may affect the bonding between brackets and the enamel surface. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of brackets' adhesion, in the presence of two different commercially available drinks. Sixty human teeth were divided into six groups and bonded with either resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGIC) or resin composite (CR). A shared bond test (SBS) was evaluated by comparing two control groups with four other categories, in which teeth were immersed in either Coca-Cola or Red Bull energy drink. The debonding between the bracket and enamel was evaluated by SEM. The morphological aspect correlated with SBS results showed the best results for the samples exposed to artificial saliva. The best adhesion resistance to the acid erosion environment was observed in the group of teeth immersed in Red Bull and with brackets bonded with RMGIC. The debonded structures were also exposed to Coca-Cola and Red Bull to assess, by atomic force microscopy investigation (AFM), the erosive effect on the enamel surface after debonding and after polishing restoration. The results showed a significant increase in surface roughness due to acid erosion. Polishing restoration of the enamel surface significantly reduced the surface roughness that resulted after debonding, and inhibited acid erosion. The roughness values obtained from polished samples after exposure to Coca-Cola and Red Bull were significantly lower in that case than for the debonded structures. Statistical results evaluating roughness showed that Red Bull has a more erosive effect than Coca-Cola™. This result is supported by the large contact surface that resulted after debonding. In conclusion, the prolonged exposure of the brackets to acidic drinks affected the bonding strength due to erosion propagation into both the enamel-adhesive interface and the bonding layer. The best resistance to acid erosion was obtained by RMGIC.