In vivo bracket retention comparison of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement and a resin-based bracket adhesive system after a year

Abstract

Glass ionomer orthodontic adhesives cause less enamel demineralization during fixed orthodontic appliance treatment than do traditional resin-based products. An in vivo randomized clinical trial was performed comparing the clinical performance of a resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI) adhesive with a no-mix, resin-based (the control) adhesive over a 12-month period. The split-mouth technique was used to analyze bracket retention, bracket failure causes, and mode of failure for both adhesives in 61 patients. Bracket-failure rates were 10% for the RMGI and 4% for the resin-based adhesive. Both adhesives had 4 times more bracket failures when opposing occlusion was present. The resin-based product demonstrated a higher proportion of resin-to-enamel adhesive failures than did the RMGI. Compared with the resin-based adhesive, the RMGI-bracketed teeth showed improved clinical performance, no enamel surface loss, less enamel demineralization, and faster adhesive removal. However, the RMGI had a 2.6 times greater bracket-failure rate than did the resin-based product. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2002;121:496-501)