The purpose of this study was to evaluate orthodontic debonding methods by comparing the surface roughness and enamel morphology of teeth after applying two different debonding methods and three different polishing techniques. Forty eight human maxillary premolars, extracted for orthodontic reasons, were randomly divided into three groups. Brackets were bonded to teeth with RMGIC (Fuji Ortho LC, GC, Tokyo, Japan) (two groups, n = 18 each) after acid etching (30s), light cured for 40 s, exposed to thermocycling, then underwent 2 different bracket debonding methods: debonding pliers (Shinye, Hangzhou, China) or enamel chisel (Jinzhong, Shanghai, China); the third group (n = 12) comprised of untreated controls, with normal enamel surface roughness. In each debonded group, three cleanup techniques (n = 6 each) were tested, including (I) diamond bur (TC11EF, MANI, Tochigi, Japan) and One-Gloss (Midi, Shofu, Kyoto, Japan), (II) a Super-Snap disk (Shofu, Kyoto, Japan), and (III) One-Gloss polisher. The debonding methods were compared using the modified adhesive remnant index (ARI, 1–5). Cleanup efficiencies were assessed by recording operating times. Enamel surfaces were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface roughness tester, respectively. Two surface roughness variables were evaluated: Ra (average roughness) and Rz (10-point height of irregularities). The ARI scores of debonded teeth were similar with debonding pliers and enamel chisel (Chi-square = 2.19, P > 0.05). There were significant differences between mean operating time in each group (F = 52.615, P < 0.01). The diamond bur + One-Gloss took the shortest operating time (37.92 ± 3.82 s), followed by the Super-Snap disk (56.67 ± 7.52 s), and the One-Gloss polisher (63.50 ± 6.99 s). SEM appearance provided by the One-Gloss polisher was the closest to the intact enamel surface, and surface roughness (Ra: 0.082 ± 0.046 μm; Rz: 0.499 ± 0.200 μm) was closest to the original enamel (Ra: 0.073 ± 0.048 μm; Rz: 0.438 ± 0.213 μm); the next best was the Super-Snap disk (Ra: 0.141 ± 0.073 μm; Rz: 1.156 ± 0.755 μm); then, the diamond bur + One-Gloss (Ra: 0.443 ± 0.172 μm; Rz: 2.202 ± 0.791 μm). Debonding pliers were safer than enamel chisels for removing brackets. Cleanup with One-Gloss polisher provided enamel surfaces closest to the intact enamel, but took more time, and Super-Snap disks provided acceptable enamel surfaces and efficiencies. The diamond bur was not suitable for removing adhesive remnant.

(1) Background—The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osseous morphology of normal skeletal pattern individuals with different dental malocclusions by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). (2) Methods—The CBCT images of bilateral TMJs in 67 subjects with skeletal class I and average mandibular angle (26 males and 41 females, age range 20–49 years) were evaluated in this study. The subjects were divided into class I, class II division 1, and class II division 2 according to the molar relationship and retroclination of the maxillary incisors. Angular and linear measurements of TMJ were evaluated and the differences between the groups were statistically analyzed. (3) Results—Intragroup comparisons showed statistical differences for articular eminence inclination, the width of the glenoid fossa, the ratio of the width of the glenoid fossa to the depth of the glenoid fossa, the condylar angle, and the intercondylar angle between the malocclusion groups. The measurements of the glenoid fossa shape showed no significant difference between the left and right sides. Females showed more differences in the morphological parameters of TMJ between the three malocclusion groups than the males. (4) Conclusion—The present study revealed differences in the TMJ osseous morphology between dental class I and class II malocclusions in the normal skeletal pattern.

(1) Background: In order to determine the correlation between the inclination of articular eminence (AEI) and the development of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), a systematic review was performed. (2) Methods: A systematic literature research was conducted between 1946 and January 2020, based on the following electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, Scope, SciELO, and Lilacs. Observational studies, analytical case-control studies, and cohort studies written in English were identified. The articles were selected and analyzed by two authors independently. The PICO format was used to analyze the studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to verify the quality of the evidence. (3) Results: Sixteen articles were included in this review, ten case-control studies and six cohort studies. Eight articles (50%) established a positive relation between AEI and TMDs and eight (50%) did not. The scientific quality was medium-low, mainly influenced by the exposure to the risk of bias and the lack of clinical methods with adequate consistency and sensitivity on the diagnosis of TMDs. (4) Conclusions: It is controversial to establish a causal relationship between the TMDs and the AEI in the field of stomatology, due to limited and inconclusive evidence. However, it is suggested that the AEI defined by some specific methods may be associated with some special pathological stages of TMDs. High-quality prospective studies are required to draw any definitive conclusions.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of erbium: yttrium aluminium garnet laser conditioning bond strength of orthodontic brackets on porcelain surfaces. Background: There are few studies that evaluate the effect of Er:YAG laser about orthodontic bonding on porcelain surface. The efficacy of Er:YAG laser in porcelain conditioning is controversial. Materials and methods: Ninety ceramic specimens were randomly divided into five group, group A: etched with hydrofluoric (HF) acid; group B and C: etched with an energy parameter of 250 mJ, 20 Hz and 300 mJ, 20 Hz by Er:YAG laser instrument; group D and E: etched with an energy parameter of 250 mJ, 20 Hz and 300 mJ, 20 Hz of Er:YAG laser with HF etching. Afterward, two samples selected randomly from each group were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Brackets were bonded on the remaining samples, which were stored in distilled water and thermocycled. Each group was measured by shear bond strength (SBS), tensile bond strength (TBS), porcelain fracture index (PFI), and adhesive remnant index (ARI) calculation. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The SBS and TBS in group E were the largest. Comparing SBS and TBS of HF group and other Er:YAG laser group, there were statistically significant difference ( p < 0.05). PFI was significantly higher in shear force group than the tensile force group. HF group had higher ARI score than the other groups. Conclusions: Porcelain surfaces etched by 250 mJ, 20 Hz of Er:YAG laser combined with HF acid can get enough bond strength and have lower porcelain fracture rate for orthodontic bracket bonding.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a more suitable and efficient preparation method of enamel surface and a safe duration of loading in orthodontics when bonding with resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC). 300 human premolars were divided into five groups: G0, etched–Transbond XT; G1, etched–moistened; G2, etched–dry; G3, unetched–moistened; and G4, unetched–dry. Using an universal testing machine, we measured shear bonding strength (SBS) and tensile bonding strength (TBS) at 30 min, 24 h, and 30 d post-bonding. The adhesive remnant index was evaluated using stereomicroscopy. The results showed that enamel surface etching significantly improved SBS and TBS of RMGIC. The moist environment could accelerate both of SBS and TBS, but not the final bonding strength. Etching with moistening was the best processing method with RMGIC. When using RMGIC on unetched enamel, the bonding surface should be moistened and loading time delayed. When evaluating mechanical properties of the adhesive materials, it seemed that the TBS was more reasonable and objective than the SBS.