In vitro enamel surface roughness analysis of 4 methods for removal of remaining orthodontic adhesive after bracket debonding.

Objectives: To perform an in vitro qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the enamel surface (by scanning electronic microscopy [SEM] and measuring polishing time and roughness analysis, respectively) among four methods to remove remaining orthodontic adhesive after bracket debonding.

Materials And Methods: Forty-one human premolars were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10) according to the adhesive remnant removal method and one tooth was used as control: Group 1 (G1): Enhance (Dentsply, Milford, USA); Group 2 (G2): Fiberglass (TDV, Pomerode, Brazil); Group 3 (G3): DU10CA-Ortho (Dian Fong Industrial, Shenzhen, China); Group 4 (G4): Sof-Lex Pop-On (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany). Roughness was measured before bonding and after complete removal of the remaining adhesive (Ra2).

Enamel acid etching: a review.

Bonding to enamel has over 50 years of history. Efforts have been made to develop or introduce a simplified alternative, but enamel acid etching remains the most effective procedure for stable enamel bonding. Although acid etching is considered the most popular procedure in dentistry, there are characteristics that deserve special attention because of how crucial they can be in many clinical situations.