In vitro comparative evaluation of pearl gel and casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate on enamel bracket shear bond strength

This in vitro study aimed to compare and evaluate the influence of Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) tooth mousse and pearl gel on shear bond strength of the orthodontic brackets when applied either before acid etching or after acid etching. Twenty-five previously extracted human anterior teeth with sound enamel surfaces were selected and randomly allocated into five experimental groups based on the type of remineralizing agent used and the timing of its application relative to etching. Standardized bonding procedures were carried out for all samples, followed by thermocycling to simulate intraoral thermal variations. Shear bond strength (SBS) was subsequently measured using a universal testing machine. The results demonstrated variations in mean shear bond strength among the experimental groups. The highest bond strength values were recorded in specimens treated with pearl gel following acid etching, closely followed by those receiving CPP-ACP application after etching. Comparatively lower values were observed when the remineralizing agents were applied prior to the etching procedure. Overall, the findings indicate that the use of CPP-ACP tooth mousse or pearl gel, irrespective of the timing of application, allows for the achievement of clinically acceptable shear bond strength. These agents can therefore be incorporated into conventional orthodontic bonding protocols without adversely influencing bracket adhesion or bonding performance.