Because of the wide use of direct-bonding materials in orthodontics, there has been concern regarding the removal of adhesive resin during the bracket debonding process. The removal technique may play a role for the amount of enamel loss and the surface characteristics of teeth. It might also be hypothesized that teeth with white spot lesions (WSL) would be more prone to a significant amount of enamel loss. Purpose: Compare the amount of enamel loss from human teeth with (N=14) and without WSL (N=14), using a low speed carbide bur and low speed disks (Sof-Flex^TM, 3M Unitek). Methods: The debonded surfaces were analyzed with a contact stylus profilometer, and digitized data were compared with AnSur^(C) to the baseline readings. Sample surfaces were also examined with a scanning electron microscope, and representative photomicrographs were taken in the secondary electron image mode. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA to determine if statistically significant differences existed between the groups. Results: The volume loss (mm³) from teeth without WSL was 0.16 and 0.10, and the mean maximum depths (mm) were 47.7 and 54.3 for the bur and disk groups, respectively. In the WSL group, the volume loss was measured as 0.06 and 0.17 (mm³), for the bur and disk groups, respectively. Mean maximum depths for this group were 35.1 and 48.7 mm for the bur and disk groups, respectively. Conclusions: There were no statistical differences for the enamel loss between the bur and disk groups in teeth with no WSL (p=0.12). However, in teeth with WSL finishing burs removed significantly less enamel, compared to Sof-Flex disks (p=0.006). Supported by AAOF and MDRCBB.

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