Color stability and force decay of clear orthodontic elastomeric chains: An in vitro study.

Objective: To compare the percentage force decay of clear and semi-clear elastomeric chain products from eight different manufacturers and to evaluate the amount of discoloration after immersion in colored dietary media of the same elastomeric chain products.

Material And Methods: An in vitro study was designed using an electronic force gauge to measure six samples from each of 19 types of elastomeric chains stretched for a period of four weeks. A spectrophotometer was used to measure the color of each specimen (10 of each type) at baseline and after being soaked in a dietary medium (coffee, tea, cola, and wine in 250 ml amounts) for 72 h.