Comparative evaluation of shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets bonded with two self-etching adhesive systems: an in vitro study

Abstract

Abstract Objective To evaluate and compare the shear bond strength (SBS of the new Optibond eXTRa Universal and Adper Prompt L-Pop self-etch adhesive systems using an in vitro experimental design. Patients and methods The sample included 40 freshly extracted human maxillary first premolars collected from orthodontic patients, adhering to ethical guidelines. The teeth were randomly assigned to two groups, one treated with Optibond eXTRa Universal self-etch adhesive and the other with Adper Prompt L-Pop. Stainless-steel brackets were then bonded to the teeth using BracePaste orthodontic adhesive composite resin. After storage and thermocycling, SBS was measured using a universal testing machine, and adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores were assessed under a digital microscope. Statistical analyses were performed, including the Shapiro–Wilk method, Student’s t-test for SBS, and χ 2 test for ARI scores. Results The mean SBS showed no significant difference between both groups (P = 0.076). However, the distribution of ARI scores exhibited a highly significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion While both adhesives exhibited similar bond strengths, variations in adhesive residue patterns highlight the importance of considering adhesive performance in orthodontic applications such as ease of cleanup and potential impact on enamel health.