An investigation on effect of Oral-B and Orthokin mouth rinse on Ultimate Tensile Strength of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures

Elastomeric ligatures are used to secure archwires into orthodontic brackets, but color changing and deformation and at last torn of them is the most current problem. Due to the lack of knowledge about effect of mouth rinse on the mechanical properties of ligatures, goal of this study was to compare the effect of Oral-B and Orthokin mouth rinse on Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) of elastomeric ligatures in 2009.

This experimental laboratory-based study was carried out on 100 transparent elastomeric ligatures of Dentaurom Company. After division of ligatures in three groups of Oral-B, Orthokin and artificial saliva, Ultimate Tensile Strength of 10 ligatures from each group were measured after 1, 7 and 28 days and also ten ligatures in as received condition using H & P Testing Machine with 5 mm/min cross head speed. Data were subjected to ANOVA and lSD test.

Results showed no significant difference in UTS between Three times in artificial saliva group. UTS in Oral-B and Orthokin group was the least after 28 days, also UTS in three groups after 1, 7, 28 days compared to as received condition has a significant decrease.

UTS of elastomeric ligatures decreased after using in different conditions and has a significant decrease in all groups. Thus there is no different between using Oral-B and Orthokin, and it is recommended that all ligatures should be replaced at each visit to reduce risk of tearing.