(Super)hydrophobic coating of orthodontic dental devices and reduction of early oral biofilm retention.

This study was designed to apply (super)hydrophobic crosslinked coatings by means of a sol-gel process on the surface of orthodontic devices and investigate the potential effect of these coatings in reducing the early retention of oral biofilm. Two organosilane-based hydrophobic solutions (HSs) were prepared containing hexadecyltrimethoxysilane diluted in ethanol (HS1) or 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide (HS2). Stainless steel plates and ceramic discs were coated with HS1 or HS2 and heated at 150 °C for 2 h for condensation of a crosslinked SiO x network.

A Modified Photoactivation Protocol Using Two Simultaneous Light-Curing Units for Bonding Brackets to Enamel.

Unlabelled: This study investigated the effect of a modified photoactivation protocol using two simultaneous light-curing units on the shear bond strength (SBS) of brackets to enamel. Metal brackets were bonded to bovine incisors using the resin-based orthodontic cement Transbond XT (3M Unitek). Four photoactivation protocols of the orthodontic cement were tested (n = 15):

Control: photoactivation for 10 s on each proximal face of the bracket at a time; Simultaneous: photoactivation for 10 s on both proximal faces of the bracket at the same time; One side-20s: photoactivation for 20 s at one proximal face of the bracket only; and One side-10s: photoactivation for 10 s only at one proximal face of the bracket.

Influence of whitening and regular dentifrices on orthodontic clear ligature color stability.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of brushing orthodontic clear ligatures with a whitening dentifrice containing a blue pigment (Close Up White Now, Unilever, London, UK) on their color stability, when exposed to a staining agent.

Materials And Methods: Ligatures from 3M Unitek (Monrovia, CA, USA) and Morelli (Sorocaba, SP, Brazil) were tested. Baseline color measurements were performed and nonstained groups (control) were stored in distilled water whereas test groups were exposed for 1 hour daily to red wine.

Impact of bracket displacement or rotation during bonding and time of removal of excess adhesive on the bracket-enamel bond strength.

Objective: This study investigated the the influence of bracket displacement or rotation during fixation and the time of excess adhesive removal from around the bracket on bond strength to enamel.

Methods: Stainless steel brackets were bonded to the buccal faces of bovine incisors using Transbond XT® adhesive resin. The teeth were divided into five groups (n = 20).

Color stability of five orthodontic clear elastic ligatures.

Aim: In this study the color stability of five commercially available orthodontic clear elastic ligatures daily exposed to a staining agent (red wine) was investigated.

Methods: The commercial brands tested were 3M Unitek, Abzil, American Orthodontics, Dentsply GAC, and Morelli. Baseline color readings (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage [CIE] L*a*b* parameters) of 20 ligatures for each brand were carried out using a spectrophotometer.

Influence of water concentration on the etching aggressiveness of self-etch primers to ground primary enamel.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of water concentration in self-etch primers on their etching aggressiveness to ground primary human enamel.

Methods: Five hydroxylethyl methacrylate/glycerol dimethacrylate phosphate-based experimental self-etch primers with the same pH (1.1) and different water concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, or 40%) were formulated.