A comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser with other in house refurbishing methods for reconditioning stainless steel and ceramic brackets. An environmental scanning electron microscope and shear bond strength analysis: An in-vitro study

Abstract

Introduction Brackets can be recycled by sending them to a commercial recycling company but it is time consuming and the bracket cannot be bonded in the same appointment. Hence in-house methods for recycling of brackets would be beneficial to both the orthodontist and the patient. Aim In our study, we compared the shear bond strength of brackets after being recycled with erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (ER:YAG) laser, sandblasting and the thermal method. Materials and Methods The study was carried out on 126 extracted premolars. The bonding procedure was performed with mandibular premolar metal and premolar ceramic brackets. Eighty-four teeth were subdivided into three groups for each method of recycling. These groups were further subdivided into two groups of 14 teeth each for the types of brackets used. Prior to the initial bonding the bracket was also viewed under an environmental scanning electron microscope to examine the meshwork of the brackets and once again after the respective recycling methods had been performed. Results We found that for stainless steel brackets, the sandblasting method was superior to the ER:YAG laser, as the recycled brackets showed a higher shear bond strength. For ceramic brackets the ER:YAG laser recycled group had the highest recycled shear bond strength therefore was the best method of recycling ceramic brackets.

Comparison of shear bond strength of orthodontic metal brackets recylced using different methods: An in-vitro study

“…As with laser group recycling, we discovered that it was comparable to sandblasting with 25µm alumina particles, but sandblasted brackets with 25µm alumina showed numerically higher shear bond strength than laser blow method, despite being statistically insignificant. This finding is in agreement to the study carried out by Devjee et al (2015) where the stainless-steel metal brackets recycled with sandblasting showed higher shear bond strength than the brackets recycled with laser blow method (Er-YAG). 27 This study found comparable shear bond strength between laser group and group I.…”

“…This finding is in agreement to the study carried out by Devjee et al (2015) where the stainless-steel metal brackets recycled with sandblasting showed higher shear bond strength than the brackets recycled with laser blow method (Er-YAG). 27 This study found comparable shear bond strength between laser group and group I. This is in contrary to the study conducted by P Chacko et al (2013) 17 and Mirhashemi et al ( 2018) 30 where they found Er-YAG laser (2940nm) is more efficient then sandblasting.…”

“…According to P. Chacko et al (2013) 17 and Mirhashmi et al (2018)[ [27], laser recycling is the most efficient method, followed by sandblasting.…”

“…N. Devjeee et al (2015) 27 discovered that for stainless steel brackets, the sandblasting method was superior to the ErYAG laser, as the recycled brackets demonstrated higher shear bond strength.…”