ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of transilüminasyon on the bond strength of orthodontic brackets. One hundred human maxillary premolars were used in this study. Brackets with orthodontic composite adhesive were placed on the labial surface of the premolars and light cured from either the labial and/or the lingual (transilüminasyon). The control sample was cured from the labial for a total of 40 seconds of light exposure. Experimental samples were cured from the buccal for 20 seconds, the lingual (transilüminasyon) for 20 or 40 seconds and both buccal and lingual for 40 seconds. The shear-peel bond strengths were tested at 24 hours after light application. The results of this study demonstrated statistically significant difference between 40 seconds of labial curing, the both buccal and lingual curing and the only lingually cured groups. Actual bond strengths were lower for only lingually cured samples but higher for the both buccal and lingual cued sles. The samples tested received 20 seconds of labially cured were nearly the same as the control values. This study demonstrated that transilüminasyon of maxillary premolars is not alone an acceptable method of cunng orthodontic adhesive. However, the bond strengths can be higher when the transilüminasyon is used in addition to the buccal curing particularly if the exposure time is inceased to 40 seconds.