Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the efficacy of Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP)-containing orthodontic composite and resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) on enamel demineralization adjacent to orthodontic brackets evaluated by a new laser fluorescence device.

METHODS:

Sixty extracted maxillary premolars were used in the present study. Twenty orthodontic brackets were bonded with ACP-containing orthodontic adhesive (Aegis-Ortho), 20 were bonded with RMGIC (Fuji Ortho LC) and 20 were bonded with Transbond XT composite as the control. All samples were then cycled for 21 days through a daily procedure of demineralization for 6 hours and remineralization for 17 hours. After this procedure, demineralization evaluations were undertaken by a pen-type laser fluorescence device (DIAGNO-dent Pen). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test was used for statistical evaluation, at P<.05 level.

RESULTS:

According to ANOVA, significant demineralization variations (DeltaD) were determined among groups (F=6.650; P<.01). The ACP-containing composite showed the lowest (mean: 8.98+/-2.38) and the control composite showed the highest (mean:12.15+/-3.83) DeltaD, during 21 days demineralization process (P<.01). Significant difference was also observed between the DeltaD scores of the RMGIC (mean: 9.24+/-2.73) and control (P<.05). No significant differences was found in preventive effects of ACP-containing composite and RMGIC (P<.05) against demineralization.

CONCLUSIONS:

The use of both ACP-containing orthodontic composite and RMGIC should be recommended for any at-risk orthodontic patient to provide preventive actions and potentially remineralize subclinical enamel demineralization.