Color stability and force decay of clear orthodontic elastomeric chains: An in vitro study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the percentage force decay of clear and semi-clear elastomeric chain products from eight different manufacturers and to evaluate the amount of discoloration after immersion in colored dietary media of the same elastomeric chain products.


METHODS
An in vitro study was designed using an electronic force gauge to measure six samples from each of 19 types of elastomeric chains stretched for a period of four weeks. A spectrophotometer was used to measure the color of each specimen (10 of each type) at baseline and after being soaked in a dietary medium (coffee, tea, cola, and wine in 250 ml amounts) for 72 h.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in the percentage of the lost initial force between all the tested E-chains (P<0.001). ANOVA shows a significant difference in the amount of discoloration between the E-chain types (P<0.001). Semi-clear (tooth-color/pearl/obscure) E-chain types (TP-ToothC, OrthO-Pearl, GAC-SiliPearl, 3M-Obscure) present significantly less change in color than clear E-chains of the same brand (TP-Clear, OrthoO-Clear, GAC-SiliClear, 3M-Clear).


CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences in the mean percentage force decay between the 19 studied clear elastomeric chain types were present. AO-Memory and Ormco maintained most of their original force at the end of the four-week interval. Significant differences in discoloration also exist between the various types of E-chains. TP Orthodontics (Tooth-Colored, SuperSlick, Clear) and Ortho Organizers (Pearl) showed the least discoloration.
Division of Orthodontics, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, P.O. Box 60169-38, Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: amaldrees@ksu.edu.sa.
Abdullah M
AM
Aldrees
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, AlMadinah AlMonawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Sahal A
SA
Al-Foraidi
Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, AlKharj, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed S
MS
Murayshed
Division of Orthodontics, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, P.O. Box 60169-38, Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia.
Khalid A
KA
Almoammar
D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D003069:Coffee; D003116:Color; D004548:Elasticity; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013662:Tea; D013997:Time Factors; D014920:Wine
D003069:Coffee; D020724:Elastomers; D013662:Tea
Color stability; Elastomeric chain; Force decay