Comparison of metal ion release from different bracket archwire combinations: an in vitro study.
OBJECTIVE
The metal ion released from the orthodontic appliance may cause allergic reactions particularly nickel and chromium ions. Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the amount of nickel, chromium, copper, cobalt and iron ions released from simulated orthodontic appliance made of new archwires and brackets.


METHODS
Sixty sets of new archwire, band material, brackets and ligature wires were prepared simulating fixed orthodontic appliance. These sets were divided into four groups of fifteen samples each. Group 1: Stainless steel rectangular archwires. Group 2: Rectangular NiTi archwires. Group 3: Rectangular copper NiTi archwires. Group 4: Rectangular elgiloy archwires. These appliances were immersed in 50 ml of artificial saliva solution and stored in polypropylene bottles in the incubator to simulate oral conditions. After 90 days the solution were tested for nickel, chromium, copper, cobalt and iron ions using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.


RESULTS
Results showed that high levels of nickel ions were released from all four groups, compared to all other ions, followed by release of iron ion levels. There is no significant difference in the levels of all metal ions released in the different groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms that the use of newer brackets and newer archwires confirms the negligible release of metal ions from the orthodontic appliance.


CONCLUSIONS
The measurable amount of metals, released from orthodontic appliances in artificial saliva, was significantly below the average dietary intake and did not reach toxic concentrations.
Navodaya Dental College and Hospital, Navodaya Nagar, Mantralayam Road, Raichur-584103, Karnataka, India.
Srinivas Kumar
SK
Karnam
A Naveen
AN
Reddy
C M
CM
Manjith
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003035:Cobalt / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions / Q000032:analysis; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry
D003722:Dental Alloys; D007477:Ions; D008670:Metals; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D002857:Chromium; D013193:Stainless Steel; D003035:Cobalt; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D007501:Iron