title: Cleansing orthodontic brackets with air-powder polishing: effects on frictional force and degree of debris.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Debris buildup on the bracket-wire interface can influence friction. Cleansing brackets with air-powder polishing can affect this process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the frictional force and amount of debris remaining on orthodontic brackets subjected to prophylaxis with air-powder polishing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frictional force and debris buildup on the surface of 28 premolar brackets were evaluated after orthodontic treatment. In one hemiarch, each bracket was subjected to air-powder polishing (n = 14) for five seconds, while the contralateral hemiarch (n = 14) served as control. Mechanical friction tests were performed and images of the polished bracket surfaces and control surfaces were examined. Wilcoxon test was applied for comparative analysis between hemiarches at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brackets that had been cleaned with air-powder polishing showed lower friction (median = 1.27 N) when compared to the control surfaces (median = 4.52 N) (p < 0.01). Image analysis showed that the control group exhibited greater debris buildup (median = 2.0) compared with the group that received prophylaxis with air-powder polishing (median = 0.5) (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cleansing orthodontic brackets with air-powder polishing significantly reduces debris buildup on the bracket surface while decreasing friction levels observed during sliding mechanics.
authors.affiliation: Student at the Multi residence in Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology Course, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Brisa Dos Santos
authors.initials: Bdos S
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Masters degree in Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Graduate Program in Dentistry, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nathalia Carolina Fernandes
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Fagundes
authors.affiliation: Masters degree in Dentistry (Orthodontics), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Graduate Program in Dentistry, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica Lídia Castro
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Aragón
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carmen Gilda Barroso Tavares
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Adjunct professor, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), School of Dentistry, Belém, Pará, Brazil. Coordinator, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Graduate Program in Dentistry, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Normando
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D017276:Friction; D006801:Humans; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets