An In Vitro study to compare the shear bond strength of metal and ceramic brackets using conventional acid etch and self-etch primer

Aim: In this, in vitro study's objective is to assess the shear bond strength (SBS) of metal and ceramic orthodontic brackets that have been adhered to enamel using a conventional acid etch/primer and self-etching primer (SEP) adhesive method. Materials and Methods: One hundred excised human premolars were bonded on brackets and were divided into group 1 -Metal brackets were bonded on teeth and group 2 -Ceramic brackets were bonded on teeth. These two groups were further subdivided: subgroup 1a - 25 metal brackets bonded using conventional acid etch/primer adhesive system, subgroup 1b - 25 metal brackets bonded using SEP, subgroup 2a - 25 ceramic brackets bonded using conventional acid etch/primer adhesive system, and subgroup 2b - 25 ceramic brackets bonded using SEP; brackets were debonded using a computerized Instron universal testing machine. Results: The mean value of SBS of metal and ceramic brackets bonded using conventional acid etch/primer adhesive systems had higher SBS than those bonded using SEP. SBS ranged from 7.95 to 12.24 MPa which was in the acceptable clinical range. Conclusion: SBS values of all four subgroups exceeded the range of 6-8 MPa observed to be acceptable for routine clinical use.