Laser-Aided Enamel Conditioning: A Comparison of Microleakage Under Brackets Following Different Aging Procedures

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate microleakage under the orthodontic adhesives applied following two version of erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser-aided enamel conditioning after thermal and thermomechanical simulators. Materials and Methods: A comparative analytical study based on metal braces bonded on the enamel of extracted teeth (n = 160) etched with acid, Er:YAG laser and Er:YAG laser with an X-Runner handpiece, and self-etch adhesives. An arch wire was ligatured to samples which were embedded in acrylic blocks by two with periodontal ligaments. The specimens were subdivided into two groups: those aged with thermal cycling and thermomechanical aging procedures. The samples were immersed in basic fuchsin solution (0.5%) for 24 h. Buccolingual sections were performed on the mesial and distal wings of the braces. The color penetration at the gingival and occlusal margins of the adhesive-bracket and enamel-adhesive was evaluated under a stereomicroscope. The median and mean values of microleakage in both groups were evaluated with Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests (P