Shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets to enamel after application of a caries infiltrant.

Objective: To examine differences in the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets on differently mineralized enamel surfaces after applying a caries infiltrant or conventional adhesive. Materials and Methods: A total of 320 bovine incisors were assigned to eight pretreated groups, and the shear force required for debonding was recorded. Residual adhesive was evaluated by light microscopy using the adhesive remnant index. Statistical analysis included Kolmogorov-Smirnov, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Scheffé tests. Results: The highest bond strength (18.8 ± 4.4 MPa) was obtained after use of the caries infiltrant. More residual adhesive and fewer enamel defects were observed on infiltrated enamel surfaces. Brackets on demineralized enamel produced multiple enamel defects. Conclusions: Acceptable bond strengths were obtained with all material combinations. A cariesinfiltrant applied before bracket fixation has a protective effect, especially on demineralized enamel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]