Date of Award

Spring 1996

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Dentistry

First Advisor

Lobb, William K.

Second Advisor

Ferguson, Donald J.

Third Advisor

Poser, Timothy J.

Abstract

Debonding involves the removal of the orthodontic attachment and residual resin on the tooth surface. Presently, there is a lack of agreement on an ideal debonding procedure. Numerous studies have been reported using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to record enamel surface characteristics associated with various stages of debonding. This has provided previous investigators with a qualitative assessment of the enamel surface. New laser technology, the scanning laser fluorometer, has been used in caries research. This method, utilizing fluorescence emitted from enamel when targeted by an argon beam, characterizes physical changes occurring in enamel. The purpose of this study was to evaluate enamel surface characteristics during the debonding procedure using a scanning laser fluorometer. Twenty human premolar teeth were selected for this study. All teeth were scanned with the scanning laser fluorometer at each of eight treatment stages: (1) pre-treatment enamel, (2) etched enamel, (3) enamel after debracketing, (4) enamel after initial residual resin removal with a 30-fluted tungsren [sic] carbide bur at high speed, (5) enamel after initial polishing with a resin polishing point at low speed, (6) enamel after rubber cup prophylaxis with fine pumice, (7) enamel after polishing with a brown silicone polishing point at low speed, and (8) enamel after polishing with a green silicone polishing point at low speed. Fluorescent volume values (FVV) were obtained for each tooth at each treatment stage. These values are a measure of enamel fluorescence and correspond to surface irregularity: the higher the fluorescent volume value, the smoother the enamel surface. Pre-treatment enamel had a mean fluorescent volume value of 39.09. The enamel surfaces after initial residual resin removal with a 30-fluted tungsten carbide bur at high speed (mean FVV=43.26) and after rubber cup prophylaxis with fine pumice at low speed (mean FYV=42.82) had the highest fluorescent volume values of all eight treatment stages examined. This study indicates that a debonding procedure including initial residual resin removal with a 30-fluted tungsten carbide bur at high speed followed by a rubber cup prophylaxis with fine pumice at low speed will yield an enamel surf ace smoothness comparable to pretreatment enamel. The scanning laser fluorometer was effective in measuring enamel surface irregularities, providing both a longitudinal qualitative and quantitative assessment of the enamel surface.

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