title: What is the best method for debonding metallic brackets from the patient's perspective?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this clinical investigation was to compare the level of discomfort reported by patients during the removal of orthodontic metallic brackets performed with four different debonding instruments.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample examined in this split-mouth study comprised a total of 70 patients (840 teeth). Four different methods of bracket removal were used: lift-off debonding instrument (LODI), straight cutter plier (SC), how plier (HP), and bracket removal plier (BRP). Prior to debonding with all experimental methods, the archwire was removed. Before appliance removal, each patient was instructed about the study objectives. It was explained that at the end of debonding in each quadrant, it would be necessary to assess the discomfort of the procedure using a visual analog scale (VAS). This scale was composed of a millimeter ruler scoring from 0 to 10, in which 0 = a lot of pain, 5 = moderate pain, and 10 = painless. The level of significance was predetermined at 5 % (p = 0.05), and the data were analyzed using the BioEstat 5.0 software (BioEstat, Belém, Brazil).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pain scores with SC were significantly higher than in all other methods. There were no significant differences between HP and BRP pain scores, and the LODI group showed the lowest pain scores. Statistically, significant differences were observed in the ARI between the four debonding methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biggest limitation of this study is that each tooth was not assessed individually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients reported lower levels of pain and discomfort when metallic brackets were removed with the LODI. The use of a straight cutter plier caused the highest pain and discomfort scores during debonding.
authors.affiliation: Av. Otavio Santos, 395 sala 705, Centro Odontomédico Dr. Altamirando da Costa Lima, Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia, 45020750, Brazil, matheuspithon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matheus Melo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pithon
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santos Fonseca Figueiredo
authors.forename: Dauro Douglas
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Raildo da Silva
authors.initials: Rda S
authors.lastname: Coqueiro
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D001840:Dental Bonding / Q000379:methods; D017005:Dental Debonding / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D019279:Resin Cements; C429625:Transbond Plus Self-Etching Primer; C477790:Transbond XT; D013193:Stainless Steel