Effectiveness of UV-Light on Removal of Fluorescent Adhesive Bracket Remnant

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a special high-speed handpiece, coupled with a UV light source, on the removal of remnants of fluorescent and non-fluorescent bracket adhesives from tooth surface.
Methods: Forty-five intact human central incisors were divided into 3 groups (n=15) according to type of adhesive and use or not of UV light. Metallic brackets, with its internal retention covered by wax, were used for adhesive procedure, in order that, after debonding, all bracket adhesive remained over the tooth surface. Fluorescent adhesive BrackFix (Voco) was used in two groups. In the first one, the removal was performed with UV light on (BF/UV) while in the other, the UV light was off (BF/0). Non-fluorescent adhesive Transbond XT (3M/Espe) was used on third group, with UV light off (TB/0). In order to simulate clinical condition, a dental training model, containing the experimental teeth, was mounted on a dental simulator phantom. Adhesive remnant removal was performed using a 30-fluted bullet shape carbide bur, by fifteen dentists, that decided when the remnants were completely removed by their personal opinion. Removal time was measured for each tooth. Adhesive remnant area was measured using a stereomicroscope before and after removal procedures, providing the remnant percentage of each tooth.
Results: Statistical analyzes (ANOVA, Tukey’s, p<0.05), showed significant differences for adhesive remnant percentage (p=0,00085): BF/UV(5,84%)a, BF/0(34,37%)b, TB/0(37,02%)b. Use of UV light also reduced the time necessary to remove adhesive from tooth surface (p=0.001): BF/UV(1min40s)a, BF/0(3min03s)b and TB/0(2min46s)c. Groups followed by the same letter do not present significant differences.
Conclusions: The amount of adhesive remnant was significantly smaller when the fluorescent adhesive was used and the removal was performed with a handpiece associated with UV light. The use of UV light reduced the time necessary to remove adhesive from the surface.