Evaluation of enamel surface changes by different enamel conditioners and de-bonding procedure using optical coherence tomography: An in-vitro qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to evaluate surface changes of enamel after using different enamel conditioning agents and bonding adhesives after de-bonding and clean-up of metal and ceramic brackets using optical coherence tomography. Method: Metal and ceramic brackets were bonded onto 120 pre-molars, divided into 4 groups [n=30] which were de-bonded after 24 hours. Enamel conditioners, bonding agents and adhesive resins of four different brands were used in each group. The images of enamel surface were captured with Optical Coherence Tomography [OCT] machine; pre-treatment (T0), post-etching (T1), after bracket de-bonding (T2) and post-cleanup (T3). A spectral domain optical coherence tomography system with 5μm axial spatial resolution was used. This was connected to a pre-configured computer system. A total of 480 images were evaluated for enamel surface evaluation. Results: OCT images obtained allowed us to evaluate the enamel surface after acid-etching and post de-bonding and clean-up procedures. 2D OCT analysis allowed in-depth analysis of enamel loss after various procedures. OCT also assisted in locating remnant adhesive layer after clean-up. Conclusion: OCT is a powerful clinical tool for the use in dentistry and can be used effectively to evaluate enamel surface loss after various procedures.