Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Biolase Waterlase Er,Cr:YSGG laser could be used as a safe and effective tool to de-bond four currently available orthodontic ceramic brackets. Changes in interpulpal temperature, enamel surface conditions and the amount of time the laser was activated to debond (sic) the ceramic brackets were evaluated. Forty human maxillary premolars were divided into four groups of ten. Prior to direct bonding, all extracted teeth were impressed and duplicated in Araldite epoxy resin as the control surface. Identical techniques were used to bond 10 ceramic brackets from each manufacturer. Three of the manufacturers provided their polycrystalline alumina ceramic brackets (Clarity, 3M Unitek, CA.; Virage, American Orthodontics, WI.; Signature, Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, CO.) and one manufacturer provided their single crystal sapphire ceramic brackets (Inspire Ice, Ormco, CA.) All teeth had the apical half of the root sectioned to allow insertion of a thermocouple. A Waterlase Er,Cr;YSGG laser with a setting of 6 watts, 15% water spray, 11% air, with a G4 tip was used to de-bond each ceramic bracket. All teeth were evaluated for interpulpal temperature change and the amount of time the laser was activated to de-bond the ceramic bracket. Each surface was again duplicated in Araldite epoxy resin and SEM images were taken to determine if damage had occurred to the enamel surface. There was no statistically significant difference in the temperature changes between the four groups. All changes in temperature were considered to be below the pulpal temperature damage threshold. One group (RMO) had a high correlation between increased time and increased temperature with a Spearman's rho coefficient of .928 (p < .0001). The single crystal sapphire bracket (Ormco) was the only group with 100% successful de-bonds with the laser. Of the total of 19 successful de-bonds, 15 suffered significant damage to the enable surface. At the settings tested, the Waterlase Er,Cr;YSGG laser is not a recommended method to de-bond ceramic brackets.

LLU Discipline

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Department

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Craig Andreiko

Second Advisor

Joseph M. Caruso

Third Advisor

Jay Kim

Fourth Advisor

Roland Neufeld

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

2005

Date (Title Page)

9-2005

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Orthodontic Appliances; Ceramics; Bonding, Dental -- methods; Lasers

Type

Thesis

Page Count

ix; 41

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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