Hannaneh Ghadirian1, Allahyar Geramy2, Mohammad Ali Keshvad1, Soolmaz Heidari3, Nasim Chiniforush4,5. 1. Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, Department of Orthodontics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Professor of Orthodontics, Department of Orthodontics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Operative Dentistry, Dental Caries Prevention Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. 4. Assistant Professor, Dental Implant Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Italy.
Abstract
Introduction: Ceramic brackets have gained increasing popularity among dental clinicians and orthodontic patients but friction is a major concern when using them. This study sought to assess the effects of diode and Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser irradiation on friction forces between two types of ceramic brackets and rhodium-coated esthetic archwires. Methods: Thirty polycrystalline and 30 poly-sapphire brackets were divided into 6 groups (n=10) as follows: (I) control polycrystalline brackets (no laser irradiation), (II) polycrystalline brackets subjected to diode laser irradiation, (III) polycrystalline brackets subjected to Nd:YAG laser irradiation, (IV) control poly-sapphire brackets (no laser irradiation), (V) poly-sapphire brackets subjected to diode laser irradiation, and (VI) poly-sapphire brackets subjected to Nd:YAG laser irradiation. The bracket slots were laser-irradiated on a custom-made table. Sixty 5-cm pieces of rhodium-coated archwires were used for the friction test in a universal testing machine at a speed of 10 mm/min. Ten brackets from the six groups underwent scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Results: The frictional resistance value of polycrystalline brackets was significantly higher than that of poly-sapphire brackets, irrespective of laser type (P <0.05). Irradiation of diode and Nd:YAG lasers, compared with the control group, had no significant effect on friction, irrespective of bracket type (P >0.05). Conclusion: It appears that diode and Nd:YAG laser irradiation cannot significantly decrease the friction. Future studies are warranted on different laser types with variable exposure.
Introduction: Ceramic brackets have gained increasing popularity among dental clinicians and orthodontic patients but friction is a major concern when using them. This study sought to assess the effects of diode and Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser irradiation on friction forces between two types of ceramic brackets and rhodium-coated esthetic archwires. Methods: Thirty polycrystalline and 30 poly-sapphire brackets were divided into 6 groups (n=10) as follows: (I) control polycrystalline brackets (no laser irradiation), (II) polycrystalline brackets subjected to diode laser irradiation, (III) polycrystalline brackets subjected to Nd:YAG laser irradiation, (IV) control poly-sapphire brackets (no laser irradiation), (V) poly-sapphire brackets subjected to diode laser irradiation, and (VI) poly-sapphire brackets subjected to Nd:YAG laser irradiation. The bracket slots were laser-irradiated on a custom-made table. Sixty 5-cm pieces of rhodium-coated archwires were used for the friction test in a universal testing machine at a speed of 10 mm/min. Ten brackets from the six groups underwent scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Results: The frictional resistance value of polycrystalline brackets was significantly higher than that of poly-sapphire brackets, irrespective of laser type (P <0.05). Irradiation of diode and Nd:YAG lasers, compared with the control group, had no significant effect on friction, irrespective of bracket type (P >0.05). Conclusion: It appears that diode and Nd:YAG laser irradiation cannot significantly decrease the friction. Future studies are warranted on different laser types with variable exposure.
Authors: Stefan Stübinger; Frank Homann; Christof Etter; Miroslaw Miskiewicz; Marco Wieland; Robert Sader Journal: Lasers Surg Med Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 4.025