Adhesives in Orthodontics: Are We Pushing the Envelope in the Right Direction?

The role of materials in the advancement of clinical orthodontic practice has been significant in the past several decades. Specifically, adhesion sciences have helped in the transition from banded appliances to bonded appliances for anterior teeth. This has afforded patients improved aesthetics and providers with more simple appliance manipulation. The goal of this study was to investigate some of the new areas of adhesion sciences including the possibilities of bonding metal directly to enamel surfaces. The role of metal surfaces containing alumina and their interaction with 10-methacryloyloxyl-dimethyl phosphate (MPD) in the bonding process is discussed. In addition, some of the fundamental principles at the basis of this new adhesion mechanism and the potential implications for future clinical practice are described.