Bond strength of an orthodontic bonding material and adhesion energy of artificial saliva to an experimental titanium bracket

In this study, to evaluate whether bond strength of an experimentally produced titanium bracket is sufficient for clinical application, we examined the tensile bond strength of the bracket to bovine teeth comparing with stainless steel bracket. We examined the adhesion energy of artificial saliva containing mucin, which is the major component of pellicles, to this bracket, stainless steel and plastic brackets. As a result, there was no significant difference in the tensile bond strength between the titanium and stainless steel brackets. The adhesion energy of mucin-containing artificial saliva to the titanium and stainless steel brackets was slightly lower than that to the plastic bracket. These results suggested that the experimental titanium bracket had a clinically sufficient bond strength, and pellicle formation on this bracket was lower than that on the plastic bracket.