Preparation of molar teeth for orthodontic bonding
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) to compare preparation of molars for orthodontic bonding using a debonding bur v no preparation
IRAS ID
225808
Contact name
Pamela Ellis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Fitting fixed braces to straighten patient's teeth involves bonding (sticking) small metal attachments (brackets) to the teeth. Sometimes the brackets become unstuck. The purpose of this study is to try to find out whether preparing the surface of the tooth before bonding reduces the chance of the bracket becoming unstuck.
If the extra cleaning does make a difference this may reduce the number of extra visits patients need to make to fix their broken brace.
Around 80 patients will be invited to join the study and all of them are about to have top and bottom fixed braces fitted at Dorset County Hospital.
They will be placed in one of two groups. The group they are placed in will dictate which of the patient's molar teeth will have extra cleaning before bonding and which molar teeth won’t. This extra cleaning is done with a special drill. It does not hurt and takes only a few seconds. Orthodontists at Dorset County Hospital have carried out this extra cleaning for several years; it is not new. There will be no extra visits for the patient.
At each routine or extra visit the orthodontist will record which brackets have become unstuck and when. We will keep recording this information until the braces are removed (usually around 18-24 months after starting).
If less brackets become unstuck on the teeth that have had extra preparation then we will recommend preparing the teeth to other orthodontistsREC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
17/WS/0176
Date of REC Opinion
9 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion