RESUMO Objetivo: o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o desenho e as medidas de cinco marcas diferentes de mini-implantes ortodônticos, e sua influência na resistência à fratura em torção. Métodos: cinquenta mini-implantes foram divididos em cinco grupos, correspondentes a diferentes fabricantes (DEN, Dentaurum; RMO, Rocky Mountain Orthodontics; CON, Conexão; NEO, Neodent; SIN, Sistema de Implantes Nacional). Vinte e cinco mini-implantes foram submetidos ao teste de fratura por torção no pescoço e na ponta, com mandris fixados a uma máquina universal de testes mecânicos. Os outros 25 mini-implantes foram submetidos ao teste de torque de inserção em blocos de costelas suínas, utilizando-se um torquímetro e um contra-ângulo montado em motor cirúrgico. O formato da ponta ativa dos mini-implantes foi avaliado por microscopia. O teste não-paramétrico de Friedman e o teste F de Snedecor na análise de variância (ANOVA) foram utilizados para avaliar as diferenças entre os grupos. Resultados: o torque de fratura do pescoço variou de 23,45 N.cm (DEN) a 34,82 N.cm (SIN); e o da ponta, entre 9,35 N.cm (CON) e 24,36 N.cm (NEO). O valor do torque de inserção variou de 6,6 N.cm (RMO) a 10,2 N.cm (NEO). As características que mais influenciaram os resultados foram: diâmetro externo, diâmetro interno, razão entre o diâmetro interno e o externo, e a presença de fresagem na região apical do mini-implante. Conclusões: os torques de fratura foram diferentes entre os cinco tipos avaliados, tanto no pescoço quanto na ponta. Os mini-implantes NEO e SIN foram os mais resistentes à fratura do pescoço e da ponta. Os torques de fratura tanto na ponta quanto no pescoço foram maiores do que o torque necessário para a inserção dos mini-implantes.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed at evaluating the design and dimensions of five different brands of orthodontic mini-implants, as well as their influence on torsional fracture strength. Methods: Fifty mini-implants were divided into five groups corresponding to different manufactures (DEN, RMO, CON, NEO, SIN). Twenty-five mini-implants were subjected to fracture test by torsion in the neck and the tip, through arbors attached to a Universal Mechanical Testing Machine. The other 25 mini-implants were subjected to insertion torque test into blocks of pork ribs using a torquimeter and contra-angle handpiece mounted in a surgical motor. The shape of the active tip of the mini-implants was evaluated under microscopy. The non-parametric Friedman test and Snedecor’s F in analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to evaluate the differences between groups. Results: The fracture torque of the neck ranged from 23.45 N.cm (DEN) to 34.82 N.cm (SIN), and of the tip ranged from 9.35 N.cm (CON) to 24.36 N.cm (NEO). Insertion torque values ranged from 6.6 N.cm (RMO) to 10.2 N.cm (NEO). The characteristics that most influenced the results were outer diameter, inner diameter, the ratio between internal and external diameters, and the existence of milling in the apical region of the mini-implant. Conclusions: The fracture torques were different for both the neck and the tip of the five types evaluated. NEO and SIN mini-implants showed the highest resistance to fracture of the neck and tip. The fracture torques of both tip and neck were higher than the torque required to insert mini-implants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate shear bond strength of 3 adhesive systems (Single Bond, TransbondTM MIP and TransbondTM XT) applied on bovine enamel under saliva contamination condition. METHOD: One hundred and twenty enamel surfaces of bovine incisors were divided into 6 groups (n = 20) according to the adhesive system used (TransbondTM XT, TransbondTM MIP and Single Bond) with or without saliva contamination. For each adhesive system, there were two groups defined as no contamination group (NC): 37% H3PO4 conditioning for 30 seconds and two layers of adhesive systems; saliva contamination group (SC): After the first adhesive layer application, the examined areas were contaminated with saliva. Samples were mounted appropriately for testing and stored in deionized water at 37 ºC for 7 days. Samples were then submitted to shear bond strength trials at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. The Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) was evaluated under stereomicroscopy. Two-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test were used to compare mean values (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Groups XT (NC) = 26.29 ± 7.23; MIP (NC) = 24.47 ± 7.52 and SB (NC) = 32.36 ± 4.14 XT (SC) = 19.59 ± 6.76; MIP (SC) = 18.08 ± 6.39 and SB (SC) = 18.18 ± 7.03 MPa. ARI 0 and 1 were the most prevalent scores in all study groups examined. CONCLUSION: Saliva contamination significantly decreased bond strength of the three adhesive systems examined (p <0.05). However, the comparison of groups with and without saliva contamination did not reveal any significant differences, and, therefore, the three systems may be considered equivalent.