Evaluation of enamel surface after bracket debonding and polishing

introduction: preserving the dental enamel structure during removal of orthodontic accessories is a clinician's obligation. hence the search for an evidence based debonding protocol. objective: to evaluate and compare, by means of scanning electron microscopy (sem), the effects of four different protocols of bracket debonding and subsequent polishing on enamel surface, and to propose a protocol that minimizes damage to enamel surface. methods: twelve bovine permanent incisors were divided into four groups according to the instrument used for debonding and removal of the adhesive remnant. in groups 1 and 2, brackets were debonded with a straight debonding plier (ormco corp., glendora, california, usa), and in groups 3 and 4, debonding was performed with the instrument lift-off (3m unitek, monrovia, california, usa). in groups 1 and 3, the adhesive remnant was removed using a long adhesive removing plier (ormco corp., glendora, california, usa) and in groups 2 and 4, residual adhesive was removed with a tungsten carbide bur (beavers dental) at high-speed. after each stage of debonding and polishing, enamel surfaces were replicated and electron micrographs were obtained with 50 and 200x magnification. results: all four protocols of debonding and polishing caused enamel irregularities. conclusion: debonding brackets with straight debonding plier, removal of adhesive remnant with a tungsten carbide bur and polishing with pumice and rubber cup was found to be the protocol that caused less damage to enamel surface, therefore this protocol is suggested for debonding brackets.