Influence of Natural Bovine Enamel Roughness on Bond Strength after Etching

Abstract Objective: To determine and compare the longitudinal and transverse roughness parameters of the enamel surface of bovine teeth and evaluate the influence of these parameters on bond strength. Materials and Methods: Ninety bovine incisors were used. The surface roughness of enamel was measured with a profilometer. For each tooth, five readings were taken in the longitudinal plane and five were taken in the transverse plane of the long axis of the tooth in an area equal to the size of the bracket base. The metal brackets were bonded with Transbond XT, and bond strength was evaluated in a universal test machine. Results: There was a statistical correlation (P < .01) between the longitudinal and transverse roughness measurements. There was no correlation between roughness measurements (longitudinal and transverse) and bond strength (P > .05), nor was there a correlation between total roughness (longitudinal Ra and transverse Ra) and bond strength. The Student's t-test showed that there was a statistically significant difference (P < .05) between longitudinal and transverse roughness. Conclusion: The transverse roughness is greater than the longitudinal roughness, there is a strong correlation between longitudinal and transverse roughness, and there is no correlation between enamel roughness and bond strength.