The efficacy of a plasma arc light in orthodontic bonding: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical performance of a plasma arc light (Ortho LITE, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) against a conventional tungsten–quartz halogen curing light (Visilux 2, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) for direct orthodontic bonding.

Design: A single centre prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

Setting: The Orthodontic Department at St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford, UK.

Subjects and methods: Forty-three consecutive patients requiring fixed appliances from the orthodontic waiting list. A split mouth technique was adopted; with quadrants randomly assigned to either the plasma arc light or the conventional halogen curing light and bonded directly with APC pre-adjusted edgewise brackets (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA).

Main outcome measure: Bracket failures.

Secondary outcome measures: Time taken to bond-up the appliances, patient sensitivity or discomfort during curing and time to replace failed brackets were investigated.

Results: No statistically significant difference in bracket failure rates over the full course of treatment was found between the plasma arc light (6.7%; 95% CI 4.5–10.0) and the halogen curing light (9.5%; 95% CI 6.8–13.1). There was no statistically significant difference in bracket survival times. The bond-up times were typically reduced by 204 seconds per patient with the plasma arc light. There were no differences in patient reported sensitivity or discomfort or rebond times.

Conclusion: The plasma arc light is a viable clinical alternative to the conventional halogen curing light with benefits for both the clinician and patient due to reduced bonding times.

Keywords:

• Plasma arc light
• conventional tungsten–quartz halogen light
• orthodontic bonding
• randomized controlled clinical trial

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the patients, parents and staff at St Luke’s Hospital who were involved with this study.