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.