CEMENT COMPOSITION EFFECTS ON ENAMEL DEMINERALIZATION ADJACENT TO ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS: AN IN VITRO STUDY USING THE CANARY SYSTEM

Abstract

Incipient caries lesions or white spot lesions are one of the most common clinical problems resulting from orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Literature has shown that infrared photothermal radiometry and modulated luminescence (PTR-LUM), used by The Canary System for caries detection, is capable of monitoring artificially created carious lesions and their evolution during demineralization. Recently, a water-based calcium aluminate glass ionomer luting cement, Ceramir, has shown bioactive surface apatite formation that may influence local remineralization. This in vitro study’s objective was to evaluate effects of bioactive cement on enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets compared to composite resin cement. A sample of 32 caries-free extracted human teeth was collected under an IRB-exempt protocol. Orthodontic brackets were cemented to each tooth with either Transbond XT or Ceramir. A 3x3 mm window adjacent to the bracket was created with acid-resistant varnish f