Introduction

Esthetic brackets have become quite popular in Orthodontics in recent decades due to their excellent color stability and adherence. Furthermore, the demand for orthodontic treatment with aesthetic orthodontic brackets among adult patients has increased significantly. Also, clinical orthodontists are concerned about the elastomeric ligatures used to connect the bracket/wire combination and want to ensure that the ligatures' properties stay intact. Color changes caused by staining resulting from food ingestion or contact with intraoral fluids are particularly undesirable. These changes are due to swelling and discoloration when elastomers are exposed to the intraoral environment, and it is caused by buccal fluids and bacteria that fill up the spaces in the rubber matrix⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾. To minimize the influence of some types of food affecting the color of elastomeric ligatures, metallic pigments have been added during the manufacturing process; however, they reduce the level of force released, impairing their elastomeric properties⁽¹⁾.

Much research has been conducted to investigate the impact of the oral cavity on the elastic characteristics of elastomeric ligatures, such as force decay, friction, and dimensional changes.^(3)(4)(5) Researchers, on the other hand, have shown minimal concern regarding the behavior of orthodontic materials following exposure to the oral environment, particularly the extent to which these changes interfere with aesthetics. Color changes in the elastomeric modules used to connect orthodontic archwires to brackets are a common concern among orthodontists and patients.

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Dr Kalyani Shriniwas Chatla

Postgraduate Student, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Dental College, Kegaon, Solapur