Effects of Alcohol on Force Decay of Elastomeric Chain

ABSTRACT

Objectives:   To test the effects of alcohol on elastomeric chain force decay in vitro in order to determine if increasing alcohol concentrations result in an increased amount of elastomeric chain force decay. 

Methods:   A prospective laboratory study was completed to test the effect of alcohol exposure on orthodontic elastomeric chain.  A total of 450 specimens were divided into five test groups.  Two test groups were each exposed to different alcohol concentrations (14% and 26.9%) and the other two test groups were exposed to different commercially available mouth rinses (Cēpacol®-14% alcohol and Listerine®-26.9% alcohol) for 60 seconds twice a day.  The control group followed all of the same procedures; however, were only exposed to deionized (DI) water.  Force measurements were taken at six time points (0, 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days).  The effects of group (DI water, 14% alcohol, 26.9% alcohol, Listerine® and Cēpacol®) and time (0, 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days) on force were analyzed with a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).  A significance level was set at p < 0.05. 

Results:   There were no significant differences among groups at the initial time point (p=0.52).  Statistically significant effects of time on force decay were seen in all groups.  All test groups showed significantly more force decay than the control group.  Only a few statistically significant differences were observed when comparing force decay amongst the test groups. 

Conclusions:   Alcohol causes an increase in elastomeric chain force decay over time.  A concentration dependence of alcohol on force decay of elastomeric chain was not observed.  Though this in vitro study showed modest differences, the effects of alcohol on elastomeric chains in the complex oral environment remain unknown.  Further studies should be conducted to evaluate elastomeric chain force decay when exposed to alcohol in vivo.