Clinical comparison of an adhesive precoated vs. an uncoated ceramic bracket system.

Objectives: To clinically evaluate the bond characteristics of the adhesive precoated ceramic (APC) Clarity bracket and compare it with the uncoated Clarity bracket used with Transbond XT bonding system. Design - A randomized clinical trial. SETTINGS AND SAMPLE POPULATION: Department of Orthodontics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Twenty patients requiring bonded fixed orthodontic appliance from central incisor to second bicuspid.

Experimental Variable: APC Clarity brackets were bonded in the first and fourth quadrant of group 1 and in the second and third quadrant of group 2. Uncoated Clarity brackets were bonded with Transbond XT in the second and third quadrant of group 1 and in the first and fourth quadrant of group 2.

Outcome Measure: During orthodontic treatment, bracket failures were registered. At debonding, the tooth surfaces were intraorally scored according to the Adhesive Remnant Index.

Results: During treatment one tie wing fractured in the APC group and no bond failures occurred. At debonding, no significant differences between the APC and Transbond XT could be shown in any of the quadrants.

Conclusion: The two groups performed identically.