Corrosion of orthodontic brackets: qualitative and quantitative surface analysis

Romy A. Doomen, Ivana Nedeljkovic, Reinder B. Kuitert, Cornelis J. Kleverlaan, Burcu Aydin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To determine and compare surface characteristics and presence of corrosion in new and used brackets with optical light microscopy (OLM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and with elemental chemical analysis with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Materials and Methods: OLM and SEM were used to analyze 24 new and 24 used conventional premolar brackets. EDS analysis was performed in six used brackets and four new brackets with corrosion-suspected spots. Results: OLM and SEM images showed wear/abfraction signs, striations, pits/crevices, and adherent material. Used brackets showed more deterioration than new brackets. SEM images disclosed more morphological features than OLM images. EDS analysis revealed a significantly higher phosphorus (P = .001) and sodium (P < .005) weight fraction and significantly lower amounts of chromium (P < .001) in used brackets. The iron, chromium, and nickel weight fractions did not differ significantly between the clean and corrosion-suspected spots. Of the corrosionsuspected spots analyzed by combined SEM and EDS, 44.14% and 6.90% remained corrosionsuspected on used and new brackets, respectively. Conclusions: Used brackets showed more signs of corrosion than new ones. Combined assessment of SEM and EDS indicates that the bracket surface is affected during orthodontic treatment as a result of corrosion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)661-668
Number of pages8
JournalAngle Orthodontist
Volume92
Issue number5
Early online date23 May 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc.

Keywords

  • Brackets
  • Corrosion

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