Enamel Thickness before and after Orthodontic Treatment Analysed in Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Despite the continuous development of materials and techniques of adhesive bonding, the basic procedure remains relatively constant. The technique is based on three components: etching substance, adhesive system, and composite material. The use of etchants during bonding orthodontic brackets carries the risk of damage to the enamel. Therefore, the article examines the effect of the manner of enamel etching on its thickness before and after orthodontic treatment. The study was carried out in vitro on a group of 80 teeth. It was divided into two subgroups of 40 teeth each. The procedure of enamel etching was performed under laboratory conditions. In the first subgroup, the classic method of enamel etching and the fifth-generation bonding system were used. In the second subgroup, the seventh-generation (self-etching) bonding system was used. In both groups, metal orthodontic brackets were fixed and the enamel was cleaned with a cutter fixed on the micromotor after their removal. Before and after the treatment, two-dimensional optical coherence tomography scans were performed. The enamel thickness was assessed on the two-dimensional scans. The average enamel thickness in both subgroups was not statistically significant.

Optical coherence tomography as a non-invasive method of enamel thickness diagnosis after orthodontic treatment by 3 different types of brackets

“…To date, only 2 recent publications have revealed significant agreement in the potential of OCT as a clinical tool to effectively measure the whole enamel layer thickness. 15,16 Some publications have acknowledged the risk of using ceramic brackets and Suliman et al widened the available knowledge on the topic by evaluating 2 types of these brackets, in which polycrystalline brackets were found to be more dangerous to the enamel structure. [17][18][19] A number of studies evaluating the loss of enamel thickness and surface damage following the removal of brackets have been published, in which the measuring tools were a planer surfometer and profilometer.…”

Current trends and clinical applications of optical coherence tomography in orthodontics: A literature review

“…Seeliger et al 41 and Koprowski et al 42 studied enamel thickness before and after orthodontic treatment using OCT and concluded that optical coherence tomography is an efficient aid in evaluating the surface and cross-sectional characteristics of enamel post-orthodontic treatment and it provides valuable information for deciding on the methodology and course of orthodontic treatment.…”

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of the desensitizing and remineralizing agent in the reduction of dentin hypersensitivity after orthodontic debonding - a randomised clinical trial

“…Enamel, being a hard protector of the teeth can be chipped and cracked exposing the underlying dentinal tubules during different procedures in carrying out orthodontic treatment, which predisposes to DH. The surface texture of enamel is irreversibly affected [ 1 ], with a definite reduction in the thickness of enamel before and after orthodontic treatment [ 2 ]. There is qualitative as well as a quantitative loss of enamel reported from invitro studies related to the factors such as the initial prophylaxis [ 3 , 4 ], type of etchant used [ 5 ], duration of etching [ 1 ], adhesive characteristics such as filled and unfilled [ 3 , 5 ], self etching primer and enamel clean-up methods [ 6 ] light cured v/s self cure [ 7 ], type of adhesive retention [ 8 ] and type of bracket, metallic or ceramic [ 8 , 9 ].…”