IADR Abstract Archives
Long-term Effects of Cleaning Methods on Essix-C+®
Objectives: Due to their esthetic nature and ease of fabrication, clear retainers have gained preference by orthodontists. Few studies have reported on retainer property changes over time. This study evaluated the long-term effects of 8-different cleaning methods on translucency, flexibility, and surface roughness of Essix-C+®.
Methods: For 6-months, 10-specimens(2x0.5x0.04in) of Essix-C+®(Dentsply-Raintree-Essix) were exposed to 8-different cleaning methods(see Table1) twice a week according to the manufacturers’ recommendations. Toothbrushing for 2-minutes with a standardized toothbrushing machine was used as a negative control-method. The specimens were stored at 37°C in artificial saliva when not exposed to the cleaning methods. At 0,1,3, and 6-months, translucency(%transmittance of light through specimen using spectrometer/integrating-sphere), flexibility(flexural modulus measured using 3-point-bend test with Instron mechanical-test-machine), and surface roughness(Surtronic3+ profilometer) of the specimens were quantified. Qualitative evaluation of random-specimens from each cleaning-method was performed after 6-months using a scanning-electron-microscope(SEM).
Results: For all cleaning-methods, a significant decrease in translucency of Essix-C+®-specimens was found after 1-month when compared to baseline, which continued through to 6-months. For all cleaning-methods, specimens were significantly less flexible at 1 and 3-months, but more flexible at 6-months, when compared to baseline. Polident® and Listerine® specimens exhibited greater translucency at 1-month(P<0.05) compared to toothbrushing-specimens, but had comparable translucency to toothbrushing-specimens at 6-months. Retainer-Brite® and Polident® specimens had increased roughness compared to toothbrushing-specimens at 6-months(P<0.05). For SEM-analysis, after 6-months, no qualitative differences were observed when comparing toothbrushing-specimens to other cleaning-method specimens.
Conclusions: Over the 6-month study, the translucency of Essix-C+®-specimens were significantly decreased beginning at 1-month, when exposed to the various cleaning-methods. Flexibility and roughness results were inconsistent and require further investigation. For parameters tested in this study, none of the cleaning-methods were significantly-better for Essix-C+®-specimens.
Methods: For 6-months, 10-specimens(2x0.5x0.04in) of Essix-C+®(Dentsply-Raintree-Essix) were exposed to 8-different cleaning methods(see Table1) twice a week according to the manufacturers’ recommendations. Toothbrushing for 2-minutes with a standardized toothbrushing machine was used as a negative control-method. The specimens were stored at 37°C in artificial saliva when not exposed to the cleaning methods. At 0,1,3, and 6-months, translucency(%transmittance of light through specimen using spectrometer/integrating-sphere), flexibility(flexural modulus measured using 3-point-bend test with Instron mechanical-test-machine), and surface roughness(Surtronic3+ profilometer) of the specimens were quantified. Qualitative evaluation of random-specimens from each cleaning-method was performed after 6-months using a scanning-electron-microscope(SEM).
Results: For all cleaning-methods, a significant decrease in translucency of Essix-C+®-specimens was found after 1-month when compared to baseline, which continued through to 6-months. For all cleaning-methods, specimens were significantly less flexible at 1 and 3-months, but more flexible at 6-months, when compared to baseline. Polident® and Listerine® specimens exhibited greater translucency at 1-month(P<0.05) compared to toothbrushing-specimens, but had comparable translucency to toothbrushing-specimens at 6-months. Retainer-Brite® and Polident® specimens had increased roughness compared to toothbrushing-specimens at 6-months(P<0.05). For SEM-analysis, after 6-months, no qualitative differences were observed when comparing toothbrushing-specimens to other cleaning-method specimens.
Conclusions: Over the 6-month study, the translucency of Essix-C+®-specimens were significantly decreased beginning at 1-month, when exposed to the various cleaning-methods. Flexibility and roughness results were inconsistent and require further investigation. For parameters tested in this study, none of the cleaning-methods were significantly-better for Essix-C+®-specimens.
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