Optical coherence tomography assessment of the enamel surface after debonding the ceramic brackets using three different techniques

OBJECTIVE: To assess the enamel surface damage and residual adhesive remnant [adhesive remnant index (ARI)] on extracted premolars after debonding the ceramic brackets using three different debonding techniques, with optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Ninety extracted premolars were bonded with ceramic brackets and divided into three groups of 30 teeth each based on debonding techniques used. Twenty-four hours later, they were debonded using three different debonding techniques: debonding pliers, ultrasonic scalers, and Er-YAG laser. A baseline scan was obtained prior to bonding using OCT. The teeth were evaluated for the adhesive remnant on the tooth surface using ARI score, and the amount of enamel surface damage was evaluated using OCT. RESULTS: We observed that the use of ultrasonic scalers as a debonding technique led to greater incidence of enamel surface damage as measured in OCT. The ARI scores with debonding pliers and laser were significantly greater than that of scaler debonding. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this in vitro study confirmed that use of ultrasonic scalers as a debonding technique led to significantly greater incidence of enamel surface damage when compared to the other two debonding techniques. The ARI scores on the tooth surface using debonding pliers and laser were significantly greater than that of the scaler debonding technique.