Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on Shear Bond Strength of Glass Ionomer Cement and Composite for Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vitro Pilot Study

This pilot study investigates the effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on enamel, focusing on wettability and shear bond strength (SBS) in orthodontic bracket bonding. Thirty-two human incisors are assigned to four groups: two negative controls bonded with Transbond XT (XT) and Ketac Cem (KC), and two experimental groups with plasma pre-treatment (XT-CAP and KC-CAP). Contact angle measurements and shear tests are conducted to assess the influence of CAP on surface properties. Compared to untreated controls, CAP application significantly increases both wettability and SBS (p < 0.001, Wilcoxen signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test). Plasma treatment results in higher bracket survival rates, attributed to improved adhesion. Notably, CAP enhances the performance of Ketac Cem, suggesting its viability as an alternative to composite adhesives. These findings highlight the potential of CAP to improve bonding reliability for fixed orthodontic appliances.