Bonding of hybrid ionomers and resin cements to modified orthodontic band materials.

Orthodontic bands often fail clinically at the band-cement interface. Hybrid ionomer and resin cements and a glass ionomer control were bonded to photo-etched and standard band materials, both of which were tested in as-received and air-abraded conditions. Cements were placed in a 3 mm diameter mold at the bonding interface and bonded to 6 x 6 mm stainless steel band specimens mounted to acrylic blocks. Specimens were stored in water for 24 hours at 37 degreesC and debonded in tension on a testing machine at 0.05 cm/minutes. Bond strengths (MPa) were calculated and data were analyzed by analysis of variance. Bond strengths to as-received bands were less than 3.4 MPa for cements tested, whereas bond strengths to air-abraded bands ranged from 7.1 to 17.7 MPa, except for the glass ionomer control. Air abrasion of band materials provides highly increased bond strength of hybrid ionomer and resin cements.