Enamel Demineralization Adjacent to Orthodontic Brackets Bonded with ACTIVA BioACTIVE-RESTORATIVE

Abstract

Introduction: Enamel demineralization adjacent to orthodontic brackets has been shown to be a consequence during orthodontic treatment. Fluoride-releasing resin-modified glass ionomer cements (RMGICs) have been shown to protect the enamel from white spot lesions, but their bond strength has been proven inadequate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ACTIVA BioACTIVE-RESTORATIVE, a bioactive material with strength superior to RMGICs, for inhibition of enamel demineralization surrounding orthodontic brackets. Materials and Methods: Fifteen human teeth were sectioned and divided into two groups. One group was the control and had orthodontic brackets bonded with Transbond XT, while the second group had orthodontic brackets bonded with ACTIVA. The teeth were varnished within 2 mm of the bracket margins and immersed in an artificial caries solution for 3 days to create carious lesions. The teeth were sectioned and viewed under polarized light microscopy for the detection of enamel demineralization adjacent to the bracket, and then, the lesion areas were measured with a computer imaging system. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.001) that ACTIVA had less enamel demineralization adjacent to the bracket when compared to the control group. Conclusions: The results of this study have demonstrated that ACTIVA, a fluoride-releasing bioactive restorative material, inhibits demineralization of enamel adjacent to orthodontic brackets when compared to a nonfluoride-releasing control.