Nuclear techniques to identify allergenic metals in orthodontic brackets

Abstract

The present study determines the elementary alloy composition of ten commercial brands of brackets, especially related to Ni, Cr, and Co metals, confirmed allergenic elements. The nuclear techniques applied in the analyses were X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray energy spectrometry (XRES), and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) . The XRES and XRF techniques identified Cr in the 10 samples analyzed and Ni in eight samples. The INAA technique identified the presence of Cr and Co in all samples. The semi-quantitative analysis performed by XRF also identified Co in two samples.The techniques were effective in the identification of metals in orthodontic brackets. The elements identified in this study can be considered one of the main reason for the allergic process among the patients studied. This finding suggests that the patients should be tested for allergy and allergenic sensibility to metals prior to the prescription of orthodontic device.