Objective: To evaluate the effects of potassium nitrate and oxalate desensitizer agents on shear bond strengths of orthodontic brackets.
Materials and Methods: Forty-five extracted human premolar teeth were randomly assigned to three groups of 15 each. UltraEZ potassium nitrate desensitizer was applied on teeth in the first group, while BisBlock oxalate desensitizer was applied on teeth in the second group. The third group served as a control. Orthodontic brackets were bonded with a light cure composite resin and cured with a halogen light. After bonding, the shear bond strength of the brackets was tested with a universal testing machine.
Results: The highest shear bond strengths were measured in Group III. The shear bond strength in Groups I and II was significantly lower than in Group III (P < .001). Significant difference was also found between Group I and Group II (P < .01).
Conclusions: Orthodontic brackets bonded to enamel treated with potassium nitrate and oxalate desensitizers showed significantly lower bond strengths than did brackets bonded to untreated enamel.
