Effects of cyclic stressing on attachment bond strength using glass ionomer cement and composite resin.

Bonded orthodontic brackets were subjected to cyclic loading in order to simulate the effect of occlusal forces. The subsequent effect on bond strength was determined. Stainless steel, mesh-based brackets were bonded to extracted teeth with either composite resin or glass ionomer cement. A jig was designed to subject each bracket to a preselected loading level and the 24-hour shear/peel bond strength of both stressed and unstressed brackets was subsequently measured. Cyclic loading brought about a comparative decrease in bond strength when using both types of material. The potential implications of selecting these different types of bonding material for clinical use are discussed.