Titanium orthodontic brackets: structure, composition, hardness and ionic release.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to investigate the composition, morphology, bulk structure and ionic release of two brands of titanium orthodontic brackets: Orthos2 (Ormco, USA) and Rematitan (Dentaurum, Germany). METHODS Five specimens of each group were examined with computerized X-ray microtomography, to reveal the morphology and structure of brackets, whilst resin-embedded and metallographically polished specimens were subjected to SEM/EDS analysis and Vickers microhardness measurements. Brackets were also maintained in 0.9% saline for 2 months and the ionic release in the immersion medium was determined with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy. The results of the hardness and ionic release measurements were statistically analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS Orthos2 brackets consisted of two parts, the base (commercially pure Ti grade II) and the wing (Ti-6Al-4V alloy), joined together by laser welding, producing large gaps along the base-wing interface. The base was of lower hardness (Hv = 145), than the wing (Hv = 392) and incorporated a standard foil base-mesh pad. Rematitan brackets consisted of commercially pure Ti grade IV, with a single-piece manufacturing pattern of virtually identical hardness (p > 0.05) at the base and wings, featuring a laser-etched base-mesh pad. The hardness of the Rematitan brackets was significantly lower than the hardness of the Orthos2 wings, but double the hardness of the Orthos2 base. Released Ti levels were below the threshold level (1 ng/ml) of analysis for both materials, whilst traces of Al (3 ppm) and V (2 ppm) were found in the immersion media for Ti-6Al-4V alloy. SIGNIFICANCE The structural and hardness differences found may influence the torque transfer characteristics from activated archwires to the brackets and the crevice corrosion potential at the base-wing interface (Orthos2). The detection of Al and V in the immersion medium (Orthos2) may imply a different biological response from the two types of Ti brackets.