To evaluate the effects of remineralizing agents on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded to intact and demineralized enamel.

In this in-vitro study, 160 human premolars were divided into 8 groups, including group 1 with intact enamel as the positive control, group 2 with demineralized enamel as the negative control, groups 3–5 treated with fluoride varnish, Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (CPP-ACP) and resin infiltrant on intact enamel, and groups 6–8 treated with the same agents on demineralized enamel. Brackets were bonded using the conventional method, and the samples were thermocycled. SBS of the brackets was measured using a universal testing machine, and the adhesive remnant index (ARI) was assessed. Data were analysed with one-way ANOVA and post hoc statistical test at the significance level of 0.05.

SBS of the brackets in all groups with intact enamel was higher than that of their counterparts on demineralized enamel, which was only significantly different between groups 1 and 2 (P-value<0.001). SBS values of groups 7 and 8 were not significantly different from group 1 (P-value=1), yet the application of fluoride varnish on both intact (P-value=0.091) and demineralized enamel (P-value<0.001) created less SBS than in group 1.

All pre-treatment methods increased SBS of the brackets bonded to demineralized enamel, yet only the resin infiltrant and CPP-ACP produced SBS similar to that of intact enamel. Also, the use of fluoride varnish on intact enamel significantly reduced SBS.