Evaluation of the Effects of Fluoride Prophylactic Agents on Mechanical Properties of Nickel Titanium Wires using Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract

Introduction Orthodontic treatment these days is increasing in demand, and therefore, it is relatively imperative for the orthodontist to prescribe the use of fluoride-containing products, such as mouthwashes and gels, to help prevent dental caries and maintain healthy oral health. The aim of the study was to assess and evaluate the effects of fluoride prophylactic agents on mechanical properties of nickel titanium (NiTi) wires during orthodontic treatment using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Materials and methods We used the commercially available round preformed NiTi orthodontic archwire (3M company) and three different mouthwash solutions, i.e., Phos-Flur gel (1.1% sodium acidulated phosphate fluoride, APF, 0.5% w/v fluoride, pH = 5.1; Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals) and Prevident 5000 (1.1% sodium fluoride neutral agent, 0.5% w/v fluoride, pH = 7; Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals). All the specimens were subjected to a three-point bending test on a universal testing machine. To observe the surface morphological changes, one wire from each group was randomly selected and observed under a SEM. Results It was observed that there was not much difference in the values of both modulus of elasticity and yield strength obtained after loading of stress on the wires in all the three experimental conditions. A significant difference in both modulus of elasticity and yield strength was observed during unloading of stress. Further, when the surface characteristics were observed for all the specimens using SEM images, it was observed that NiTi wires treated with Phos-Flur showed large surface defects which appeared as round, pitted areas depicting corrosion, numerous white inclusions, and overall damaged surface structure of the wire as compared with the control. Conclusion Thus, fluoridated mouthwashes are essential to maintain good oral hygiene and decrease instance of caries in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. The prophylactic usage of topical fluoride agents on NiTi wire seems to diminish the mechanical properties of the orthodontic wire that could significantly affect future treatment outcomes. Clinical significance It has been proved that fluoride mouthwashes/gels do affect the structural surface qualities and strength of wires used during the orthodontic treatment irrespective of the composition of the wires. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the clinician to prescribe these prophylactic agents carefully while keeping in mind their pH so that the overall result of the treatment may not be hampered and delayed due to change in properties of the wires used. How to cite this article Gupta AK, Shukla G, Sharma P, Gupta AK, Kumar A, Gupta D. Evaluation of the Effects of Fluoride Prophylactic Agents on Mechanical Properties of Nickel Titanium Wires using Scanning Electron Microscope. J Contemp Dent Pract 2018;19(3):283-286.

Evaluation of Bioactive Glass and Low Viscosity Resin as Orthodontic Enamel Sealer: An In Vitro Study

“…Moreover, previous research shows that using fluoride-containing agents with low or high concentrations is insufficient to prevent or treat WSLs [ 9 ]. A high concentration of fluoride could significantly affect NiTi wires by affecting its mechanical properties [ 10 , 11 ] and may increase the risk of chronic fluoride toxicity [ 12 ]. Shielding the enamel surface with orthodontic sealants has been suggested to minimize enamel demineralization next to orthodontic brackets [ 4 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

The Influence of Fluoride Gels on the Physicochemical Properties of Tooth Tissues and Dental Materials—A Systematic Review

“…Seven studies [24,35,37,39,40,42,43] demonstrated the effect of fluoride gel on the tissue surface of human or bovine teeth, all of which showed increased surface remineralization. Three articles [8,25,34] also demonstrated the effect of fluoride gel on the surface of stainless steel and titanium alloys, with defects observed in all cases. Additionally, one in vivo study [44] was conducted on the surface of stainless steel and metal alloys.…”

“…After a full-text examination, six articles were rejected due to not meeting the inclusion criteria. Finally, 17 articles qualified for the systematic review [8,12,24,25,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]. All of the included studies were written in English and were either in vitro or in vivo studies.…”

“…Taqa et al [34] used stainless steel and nickel-titanium archwires in their study, which examined the influence of acidulated phosphate with 1.23% fluoride ions and a pH of 3.5. Gupta et al [25] examined the effect of 1.1% sodium acidulated phosphate fluoride, APF, which had 0.5% w/v fluoride and a pH of 5.1. Both articles demonstrate changes on the surface of the arches through SEM images, which may compromise their strength.…”

“…For example, wettability affects cellular adhesion and interaction with liquids [24]. Although fluoride gels help decrease the occurrence of caries in orthodontic patients, recent research indicates that their application may adversely affect the mechanical properties of orthodontic wires, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to treatment planning [25]. Furthermore, fluoride gels may affect the structure of restorations (e.g., glass ionomers) depending on the pH and form of fluoride incorporation (APF, neutral sodium fluoride) [26].…”