An In-Vitro Analysis of the Surface Treatment of Orthodontic Bracket Bases With Er,Cr:YSGG Laser and Its Effect on Shear Bond Strength

Introduction Shear bond strength is indispensable to prevent the debonding of orthodontic brackets. Lasers have been proven to alter the bond strength of orthodontic brackets, but their efficiency has not been validated in many trials. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser on the bases of orthodontic brackets and determine their bond strength with the enamel surface. Materials and methods The Waterlase iPlus (made in the USA in 2012), comprising an Er,Cr:YSGG laser, was used. Based on the surface treatment of brackets, two groups were assigned (n=10), comprising laser-treated and untreated bracket bases. The brackets were treated with the minimum laser intensity (50 Hz, 4.5 W). Then, the brackets of both groups were attached to the labial surfaces of previously extracted premolars, respectively. The shear bond strength of brackets (SBS) was assessed using the universal testing device, and the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) was also measured. An independent sample t-test was used to compare the bond strength between the laser-treated and untreated brackets. Results The mean bond strength of laser-treated and control group brackets was 5 MPa and 8.63 MPa, respectively. The laser-treated brackets showed lower bond strength than the control brackets, but the results were statistically insignificant (p=0.23). The ARI analysis stated that bond failures occurred mostly in the region of the bracket and adhesive interface. Conclusion Laser-etched bracket bases showed lesser shear bond strength than the untreated ones, though the difference was statistically insignificant.