Comparative Assessment of Bracket Bond Failure Rates of a Novel Chitosan-Based Orthodontic Primer: An In Vivo Split-Mouth Study

Introduction An unavoidable side effect of orthodontic fixed appliance therapy is the demineralization of the enamel surface surrounding the bracket at the adhesive and tooth interface due to a microgap formation, which serves as a nidus for biofilm growth. Due to this, it is advantageous to include antibacterial agents in orthodontic primers without affecting their clinical properties. The aim of this study was to compare the in vivo bracket bond failure rates of a novel chitosan-based primer with a conventional orthodontic primer. Materials and methods Fifty-four subjects and 1,080 brackets were included in this study. At the end of six months, 45 subjects and 960 brackets bonded using novel chitosan-based primers and conventional primers (Anabond, Anabond Stedman Pharma Research Pvt Ltd, Chennai, India). Each was evaluated for a bracketed bond failure rate. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results The results revealed that the bracket bond failure rate in Group 1 (novel chitosan-based primer) was 27 brackets (3%) and 23 brackets in Group 2 (conventional primer) (2.5%), with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the bracket failure rate between the maxillary arch (2%) and the mandibular arch (3.5%) (p<0.05). Conclusion Brackets bonded with the chitosan-modified novel orthodontic primer showed no statistically significant difference in bracket bond failure rate when compared to the conventional primer. Bond failure rates were higher in the mandibular teeth when compared to the maxillary teeth.