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Prof. Nabeel Fouad Talic أ.د نبيل بن فؤاد تالك

Professor

Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic

كلية طب الأسنان
College of Dentistry, 2nd Floor, 2B11 Email: nftalic@yahoo.com
publication
Journal Article
2017

Comparison of the static frictional resistance and surface topography of ceramic orthodontic brackets: an in vitro study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the frictional resistance (FR) and surface topography of newly available

polycrystalline alumina (PCA) ceramic brackets characterised by a yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) coating of the slots, compared

with monocrystalline alumina (MCA) ceramic brackets and stainless steel (SS) brackets.

Methods: The FR was investigated using a universal testing machine. The test groups included PCA (Clarity Advanced, 3M

Unitek, CA, USA) and MCA (Inspire Ice, Ormco, CA, USA). The control group included SS brackets. A sliding test was

performed for each bracket type with three bracket-wire angulations (0Åã, 5Åã, 10Åã). A total of 225 sliding tests were performed

in a dry environment, and 225 tests were performed in a wet environment of artificial saliva. A scanning electron microscope

was used for qualitative assessments. The surface topography of the bracket slots was quantitatively assessed using an optical

profilometer.

Results: In the dry environment, the overall FR values were significantly lower for PCA and SS brackets compared with MCA

brackets (p < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between PCA and SS brackets. In the wet environment, there were

no significant differences between the bracket groups and their overall FR values. There was a significant correlation between

the overall FR and the bracket-wire angulation values (p < 0.001). The bracket slot surface topography revealed that the PCA

bracket slots had the highest roughness values, followed by SS and MCA brackets (p < 0.001). There was no significant

correlation between the roughness values of the bracket slots and the FR in a passive configuration for all bracket types.

Conclusion: A yttria-stabilised zirconium coating of the PCA ceramic bracket slots might be a positive approach to apply for the

reduction of FR.

(Aust Orthod J 2017; 33: 24-34)

Volume Number
33
Magazine \ Newspaper
Australian Orthodontic Journal
Pages
24-34
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