Comparison of the adhesive performance of various composite materials used for clear aligner attachments

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the impact of commonly consumed beverages in patients’ daily diets on the bonding performance of composite attachments used in clear aligner treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracted ninety premolar teeth were cleaned and polished. These premolar teeth were then used for attachment placement, utilizing three distinct types of composites and with an attachment template. To simulate the impact of beverages on bond strength during in vitro evaluation, the attachments were exposed to three different solutions: coffee, cola, and distilled water. The bonding force was quantified using the shear bond strength test, followed by an assessment of the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) scores to evaluate the remaining adhesive. Statistical analyses were done. RESULTS: The subgroups within the GC Aligner Connect showed statistically significant differences in shear bond strength (p < 0.05). Specifically, the cola group’s shear bond strength values were significantly lower than the coffee and distilled water groups. Additionally, the shear bond strength values in the distilled water group were significantly higher than those observed in the coffee group (p < 0.05). Notably, the measured values for the cola solution exhibited a significant difference across the groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The three composites immersed in acidic solutions of cola, coffee, and distilled water were affected to varying degrees, with Omnichroma being the least affected. Clinicians should emphasize to patients the significance of proper dietary rules and their compliance. Additionally, they should consider dietary habits when selecting suitable materials.