Comparative evaluation of enamel surface roughness after debonding using four finishing and polishing systems for residual resin removal—an in vitro study

Debonding is a procedure of removing orthodontic attachments along with the entire residual adhesives from the surface of enamel following orthodontic treatment completion. The objective of the orthodontists should be to restore the surface of enamel as closely as possible to natural enamel without inducing iatrogenic injury and with minimal loss of enamel structure [1].

The surface structure of natural enamel has micro-roughness in the range of 0.59 to 0.66 μm [2]. Bonding of brackets on enamel involves surface etching, application of primer, and adhesive. All these steps involve the risk of damaging the enamel surface and changing its original morphology. Upon completion of orthodontic treatment, the debonding procedure followed by residual resin removal further damages the enamel, producing scratches, cracks, grooves, removal of fluoride-rich external enamel layer, and increasing the enamel roughness. The rough enamel surface inhibits proper cleaning and thus invites plaque deposition, bacterial retention, stain formation, and thus dampening the esthetic appearance of the teeth. Restoring the enamel to its original morphology is a challenge [3].

A variety of mechanical methods have been proposed to achieve satisfactory resin removal with least possible enamel damage following bracket debonding. These include band removing pliers, hand scalers, ultrasonic cleaning, intraoral sandblasting, sandpaper discs, diamond burs, stainless steel burs, rubber cups, tungsten carbide burs (fine or super fine grit, low or high speed, various flutes), lasers, and composite burs [4, 5].

Numerous methods are available to assess the enamel damage such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), stereo microscopy, contact profilometry, a non-contact white light 3D profilometry, or atomic force microscopy (AFM) [4, 6].

In contemporary orthodontic practice, four finishing and polishing systems are being widely used. The One gloss complete system (Shofu Dental Corporation, Japan) uses a high concentration of aluminum oxide with silicone as a binder [7]. The Enhance finishing and Pogo polishing system (Dentsply, Milford, USA) is also widely used and is made up of polymerized urethane dimethacrylate resin, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and fine diamond powder [8].

A new innovative composite bur enriched with zircon-rich glass fiber has gained attention. This fiber-reinforced composite bur, Stainbuster (Abrasive Technology Inc., Lewis Centre, Ohio), is also studied and compared with other systems though not extensively and with mixed results [9].

Lastly, the 3M Soflex system (3 M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) which includes finishing discs and the most recently introduced Soflex spiral wheels are also being used by orthodontists. The discs are made up of aluminum oxide particles from coarse to superfine (50 to 80 μ), whereas the spiral wheels are made up of diamond particles impregnated in thermoplastic elastomer [10, 11].

There is no study wherein all these four contemporary finishing and polishing systems have been compared at one platform to assess the extent of enamel surface roughness after finishing and polishing. Thus, the aim of our study is to evaluate and compare enamel surface roughness after debonding using Shofu One gloss, Dentsply Enhance finisher and Pogo polisher, Fiber reinforced Stainbuster bur, and 3M Soflex discs and spiral wheels for residual resin removal.

The study was carried out in the Department of Orthodontics, K. M. Shah Dental College & Hospital, Vadodara in collaboration with Ahmedabad Engineering Research Institute, Ahmedabad and Metallurgical & Material Engineering Department, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, The M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara.

Selection criteria included extracted premolars with intact buccal surface. Premolars with (1) carious lesions, (2) restorations, (3) visible cracks, and (4) hypoplasia were excluded.

Assuming that the significant difference required between two groups in relation to mean roughness is 0.33 μm based on the values obtained from previous study [4]. Sample size in this study was calculated using significance level of 0.05 and power of 80% to detect meaningful differences among mean values of four groups. It showed that minimum of 88 samples (22 per group) were required. Figure 1 illustrates four groups. Table 1 describes four groups used for roughness check.

Groups	Resin removal methods	Company	Number of teeth
1	Shofu one gloss complete set	Shofu Dental Corporation, Japan	22
2	Enhance Finishing Kit	Dentsply, Milford, USA	22
3	Fiber reinforced composite bur	Stainbuster, Abrasive Technology Inc., Lewis Centre, Ohio	22
4	Soflex finishing disc and spiral wheels	3 M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA	22

The sample of 88 premolars extracted for orthodontic purpose was procured as per the inclusion criteria. The teeth were washed under running water to cleanse the soft tissue remnants and stored in 0.1% thymol for disinfection. Then the teeth were mounted in Plaster of Paris leaving the crown of the teeth visible.

The 88 mounted teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups of 22 each for residual resin removal. The randomization was done using computer randomization method (Research Randomization Program).

Buccal surfaces of teeth on the area where bracket is bonded were evaluated with the help of surface roughness tester (Baseline roughness data). Two measurements for each specimen were measured and mean was calculated.

The surface roughness is measured using the following three parameters [9]: (Fig. 2)

1. 1.

   R_a: R_a is the average roughness. It is the arithmetic mean deviation of the surface valleys and peaks from the center line in the measuring length.

    
2. 2.

   R_t: R_t is the maximum roughness height. R_t is defined as the maximum peak to valley height over the length of sample.

    
3. 3.

   R_z: R_z is the mean roughness depth. R_z is the mean vertical space linking the highest peak and the deepest valley of five closest measuring sections.

    

The teeth were polished with pumice slurry and rubber cup. Then they were rinsed with water and dried with compressed air. The buccal surface of the teeth was etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 30 s, rinsed, and air dried (Fig. 3a).

This was followed by primer application on the tooth surface and light cured for 10 s (Fig. 3b). A layer of Vaseline was applied on the mesh of the brackets to avoid composite adhesion to the base of bracket. This will permit easy removal of the bracket with the help of debonding pliers, leaving the entire adhesive on the tooth surface. The adhesive was then applied on the bracket mesh and pushed on the surface of enamel (Fig. 3c).

After removal of excess flash by dental explorer, curing was carried out for total 40 s, from occlusal, gingival, distal, and mesial directions, 10 s each. Wavelength of curing light ranges from 420 to 480 nm (Fig. 3d). The bracket debonding was carried out by gently squeezing the mesial and distal wings with the help of bracket removal pliers.

All burs/wheels/discs were used in low-speed handpiece (10,000–20,000 rpm) with water cooling as per the instructions of the manufacturer. Complete removal of resin was confirmed under dental operating light for visual examination followed by tactile assessment using a dental explorer.

After residual resin removal with four different methods (Fig. 1), the specimens were subjected to roughness assessment by surface roughness tester (post polishing roughness) (Fig. 4).

Two measurements for each specimen were recorded and mean was calculated.

Out of each group, two specimens were subjected to scanning electron microscopic examination. All bonding, debonding, and adhesive residual removal procedures were carried out by the principal investigator. The data of the above procedures was obtained and subjected to statistical evaluation.

Correct bonding and debonding techniques play an important role in orthodontics. Many factors affect these procedures; the most important among them are the type of adhesive used for bonding, the instruments used for bracket debonding, and the finishing and polishing methods of adhesive resin removal [13].

With evolution of composite resin and adhesive systems, more effective bonding between enamel and resin can be achieved resulting in fewer brackets debonding rate. But, due to this increased adhesion of resin to enamel surface, removal of resin after debonding becomes more troublesome. So, the technique used for residual resin removal plays important role to avoid enamel surface damages, such as enamel cracks, rougher enamel surface, wear of enamel, overheating of the teeth, and pulpal damage [14].

In our study, no statistically significant difference in baseline surface roughness was noted between One gloss group, Enhance system group, Stainbuster group, and Soflex disc and wheels group. On the other hand, finishing instruments affected the surface roughness parameters. Higher roughness values were obtained with use of the Soflex group than other three groups (p < 001).

Our results showed that Soflex disc group created roughest enamel surface in comparison to other three groups. Results were in accordance with the results of Challa et al. [15], who assessed the effectiveness of five resin removal methods including tungsten Carbide burs (TCB), Discs (Sof-Lex), One step system (PoGo), and combination of carbide bur with multistep and one step polishing systems (TCB + Sof-Lex + pogo). Scanning electron microscopic results showed that enamel surface was near to original in samples finished with One step system (PoGo) followed by Sof-Lex dics.

Howell [16] in his study observed that Sof-Lex discs followed by slurry of pumice led to roughest enamel surface. Michele vidor [17] recommended using Enhance finishing tip followed by aluminum oxide polishing rather than Soflex discs as more enamel damage was observed with Soflex system.

Didem Atabek [7] evaluated enamel surface roughness after debonding using Enhance and pogo system, Stainbuster bur, and Soflex discs. Profilometric analysis suggested that smoothest enamel surface was obtained with Enhance system and roughest enamel surface was achieved using Soflex discs.

Brijesh in their in vitro study compared Enhance and Pogo system, One gloss system, and Soflex spiral wheels. Their results suggested that Enhance and Pogo micro polisher were better in creating smoother enamel surface than One gloss system and Soflex discs [18].

In the present study, SEM was used to assess enamel surface configurations. This method cannot provide a quantitative assessment. It is only used as a supportive tool with quantitative assessment methods [19].

SEM micrographs showed that Stainbuster bur seemed to be very efficient way to clean the surface. This qualitative result of smoothest surface achieved with Stainbuster bur agreed with our quantitative result. One gloss system and Soflex discs were the most hazardous techniques to the enamel surface. Enhance and pogo system was less destructive to enamel surface than One Gloss system and Soflex disc and wheels.

In the current study, surface roughness tester was used for assessing enamel surface roughness quantitatively. The surface roughness tester (Insize, ISR-C100) can measure up to 16 different parameters. The tester has a probe position indicator that helps in accurate identification of location. Display window shows roughness values, profile, and curves. The instrument can get connected with printer via Bluetooth [20].

All measured roughness parameters (R_a, R_t, R_z) for Sof-Lex disc and wheels were statistically higher than other finishing and polishing systems employed in this study. While all the roughness values were lowest for stainbuster group indicates smoothest enamel surface among all four groups.

The differences in roughness after finishing and polishing among the techniques also depend on patterns of particle size and their organization within the resin matrix of respective bur/wheel/disc. Aluminum oxide disks have limitations because of their shape, which make them difficult to use efficiently in posterior teeth [21].

Bicakci [22] used high speed burs without water cooling. They noticed heating in the pulp chamber resulting in vascular hyperemia and occasional breakage of odontoblasts was seen. This is a transient reversible condition. Damage of pulp gets repaired within about 20 days. It was recommended to remove most of the residual resin under water cooling and turning the water cooling off during removal of last resin layer, so that it helps in distinguishing between enamel surface and resin remnants, thereby preventing further enamel damage and loss. Therefore, in our study, water cooling was used initially to remove bulk of composite and last layer of resin was removed without water coolant.

Speed of hand piece is one of the important issues while removing adhesive resin with hand piece. A low-speed rotary instrument creates additional vibrations and uncomfortable for patients [23]. Risk of pulpal damage increases with low-speed instrument [24]. It is noted that low-speed instrument created irregular enamel surface but the natural enamel itself also showed slightly repetitive and spiky enamel [23]. It was found that effective adhesive removal was achieved with low-speed burs than high-speed burs due to the fact that both the depth and the area of the residual resin layer were significantly lower after using low-speed burs (p value < 0.05). Bishara et al. [24] observed that enamel loss was less with low-speed burs than high-speed burs. For such reasons, slow speed hand piece was used in our study.

Generation of aerosols is another demerit of residual resin removal with rotary instrument. Jonke E et al. [25] in their study observed that after ceramic bracket debonding and various cleanup methods, aerosols produced during composite grinding can act as endocrinological disruptors.

Debonding and adhesive resin removal techniques are operator-dependent procedures. Thus, the results may probably differ among operators. So as to lessen this inaccuracy, just one operator carried out all the clinical procedures in our study. Results of the current study showed that post clean-up roughness (post polishing roughness) was more than the prebonding enamel roughness (baseline roughness) in all the four groups. This implies that no resin removal method was able to completely restore the enamel surface roughness to its original form [26].

Our study has some limitations and warrant future studies to combat the same. Latest methods such as confocal laser microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are being used to obtain 3D data of enamel roughness that will help in gaining more clear information regarding the amount of enamel loss caused due to various resin removal methods.

Second limitation of our study is in vitro study. Our study being in vitro, the result of this study cannot be directly applied in clinical situations. Factors such as saliva, oral hygiene, temperature, and pH can also affect our results. Future in vivo studies are required to confirm our results and clinical implementation [27].