Surface roughness analysis of ceramic bracket slots using atomic force microscope / 대한치과교정학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to measure the surface roughness at the slot floor of various ceramic brackets. METHODS: One kind of stainless steel bracket (Succes(R)), two kinds of monocrystalline brackets (Inspire Ice(R), Perfect(R)) and two kinds of polycrystalline brackets (Crystalline V(R), Invu(R)) were examined. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to measure the surface roughness of each bracket. Data acquisition and processing were performed using SPIP(TM). RESULTS: The differences in values of Sa, Sq, and Sz in Invu(R) and Inspire Ice(R) were not statistically different from the control group Succes(R). The values of Sa, Sq, and Sz of Perfect(R) and Crystalline V(R) were greater than those of Succes(R). Differences of all the Sa, Sq, and Sz values between Perfect(R) and Crystalline V(R) were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the slot surfaces of Succes(R), Inspire Ice(R), and Invu(R) were smooth compared to those of Crystalline V(R) and Perfect(R).