Do soft drinks affect metal ions release from orthodontic appliances?

•The release of metal ions from orthodontic appliances was investigated under in vitro conditions in the environment of soft drinks.•ICP-OES analysis was performed on samples of Coca Cola®, orange juice, and artificial saliva.•The reached outcomes showed that Coca Cola® intensified nickel ion release from orthodontic appliances.

ObjectiveThe effect of orange juice and Coca Cola® on the release of metal ions from fixed orthodontic appliances.Materials and methodsA continuous flow system designed for in vitro testing of orthodontic appliances was used. Orange juice/Coca Cola® was flowing through the system alternately with artificial saliva for 5.5 and 18.5 h, respectively. The collected samples underwent a multielemental ICP-OES analysis in order to determine the metal ions release pattern in time.ResultsThe total mass of ions released from the appliance into orange juice and Coca Cola® (respectively) during the experiment was calculated (μg): Ni (15.33; 37.75), Cr (3.604; 1.052), Fe (48.42; ≥156.1), Cu (57.87, 32.91), Mn (9.164; 41.16), Mo (9.999; 30.12), and Cd (0.5967; 2.173).ConclusionsIt was found that orange juice did not intensify the release of metal ions from orthodontic appliances, whereas Coca Cola® caused increased release of Ni ions.

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