INFLUENCE OF MODIFICATION OF ATTACHMENT BASE AND SALIVA CONTAMINATION ON THE BOND STRENGTH OF ORTHODONTIC TUBES BONDED TO HUMAN ENAMEL

Abstract

The objective of this in vitro study was to assess and compare the shear bond strength of conventional and modified orthodontic tubes bonded to the surface of dry and saliva-contaminated enamel. The sample consisted of 40 human teeth, which were randomly divided into four groups according to attachment base and presence or absence of saliva contamination as follows: Group CB, conventional orthodontic tubes without salivary contamination; Group CB-S, conventional orthodontic tubes with salivary contamination; Groups BM, orthodontic tubes modified by welding a metal mesh to their base without salivary contamination; and Group BM-S,  modified orthodontic tubes with salivary contamination. Shear bond strength test was performed in a universal testing machine and analysis of the adhesive remnant index (ARI) by optical microscopy. Two-way ANOVA was used, followed by Tukey’s test at a statistical significance level of 5%. The ARI results were analysed descriptively. There was statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the shear bond strength values, with conventional tubes presenting significantly higher values (P < 0.05). In addition, the presence of salivary contamination interfered negatively with the behaviour of conventional tubes only (P < 0.05). Shear bond strength was not improved by increasing the area of the orthodontic tubes. Moreover, salivary contamination influenced negatively the SBS values, but only when conventional tubes were used.