A Split-Mouth Clinical Trial Evaluating the Bond Failure Rate of a New Etch-Free Orthodontic Adhesive

Overview

This randomized, split-mouth clinical trial will evaluate a new orthodontic adhesive that eliminates the need for acid etching before bracket bonding. Conventional orthodontic bonding requires etching enamel with phosphoric acid, which can weaken the outer enamel layer and increase the risk of white spot lesions and enamel damage. The etch-free adhesive under investigation is designed to simplify the bonding procedure while preserving enamel integrity. Twenty orthodontic patients starting treatment with braces will participate. For each patient, one side of the mouth (left or right) will be randomly assigned to receive the etch-free adhesive, while the opposite side will receive the conventional adhesive with acid etching. This intra-patient design allows a direct comparison under identical oral conditions. Participants will be followed for 12 months. Bracket failures, bonding time, ease of adhesive removal, enamel surface condition after debonding, and the presence of white spot lesions will be recorded. If effective, the etch-free adhesive may reduce enamel damage without compromising bond strength, providing a safer and more efficient bonding option for orthodontic patients.

This is a prospective, randomized, split-mouth clinical trial designed to compare the bond failure rate, bonding efficiency, and enamel outcomes of a novel etch-free orthodontic adhesive with a conventional acid-etch adhesive over a 12-month follow-up period. Background and Rationale Conventional orthodontic bonding requires phosphoric acid etching to create surface roughness for adhesive retention. While effective, this process irreversibly demineralizes enamel and may increase susceptibility to white spot lesions (WSLs), decalcification, and enamel fractures during bracket removal. A new generation of self-adhesive bonding materials eliminates the etching step by bonding directly to enamel. This simplified approach may preserve enamel integrity, reduce chair time, and improve the patient experience while maintaining adequate bond strength. The split-mouth design allows direct intra-patient comparison of the two bonding methods under identical oral conditions (hygiene, diet, occlusal forces), reducing inter-patient variability. Study Design Type: Prospective, randomized, split-mouth trial Population: 20 patients (ages ≥12 years) with permanent dentition undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment Follow-up duration: 12 months post-bonding Setting: University-based orthodontic clinic Interventions Test Adhesive (Experimental): A commercially available etch-free adhesive system applied directly to enamel without acid etching or separate priming. Control Adhesive: Conventional orthodontic adhesive applied following 37% phosphoric acid etching, primer, and adhesive placement. Randomization and Bonding Procedure Each patient will receive both adhesives-one on the left side and one on the right-randomly assigned using a computer-generated randomization schedule and sealed envelopes. Bonding will be performed by a calibrated operator using identical brackets and bonding techniques. Control side: 37% phosphoric acid etch (30 seconds), rinse, dry, primer, and adhesive. Experimental side: Etch-free adhesive applied directly per manufacturer instructions. Bonding time for each side will be measured with a stopwatch. Sample Size Justification Twenty patients will contribute approximately 212 bonded brackets (10-12 per side, excluding molars and second premolars). This sample size provides 80% power to detect a clinically meaningful difference in bond failure rates (expected 5% failure rate for the etch-free adhesive vs. 10% for conventional adhesive; α = 0.05), analyzed using McNemar's test for paired binary outcomes. Outcome Measures Primary Outcome Bracket Failure Rate: Number and location of dislodged brackets on test vs. control sides recorded at monthly visits. Secondary Outcomes Bonding Time: Measured in seconds per side. Enamel Condition at Debonding: Assessed clinically and photographically by blinded evaluators. Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI): Scored 0-3 after debonding. White Spot Lesions (WSLs): Presence and severity assessed clinically and photographically at baseline and after 12 months using standardized scoring. Patient-Reported Outcomes (if applicable): Discomfort related to bonding/debonding. Data Collection and Management Data will be recorded using standardized forms and stored on secure, encrypted institutional servers. Clinical photographs will document enamel condition and WSLs. All data will be coded and de-identified. Only authorized study personnel will have access. Ethical Considerations The study has been reviewed by the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board (IRB #HP-00115604) and determined to be minimal risk. Written informed consent will be obtained from adult participants; minors will provide assent with parental consent. Both adhesives are commercially available and widely used in clinical practice; no experimental drugs or devices are involved. No additional radiographs or invasive procedures are required beyond standard care. Participants may withdraw at any time without affecting their ongoing treatment. This trial seeks to determine whether an etch-free adhesive can reduce enamel damage and improve bonding efficiency without compromising clinical performance.