by Dr Jonathan Chi, Castle Hill Orthodontics, Castle Hill, NSW
Transbond Plus Self Etching primer is a superior product and I would recommend it to orthodontists who have a heavy case load.
What’s good about it
In the past, I used the basic etch, bond, prime and rinse technique when bonding braces to teeth. Now I use Transbond when putting on braces or repairing broken braces and it saves a good 10-15 minutes per band up. Previously I needed to etch the teeth, rinse them, dry them, place a primer on them, dry them, and then place on the bracket. This removes all of those steps. All I have to do now is to dry the teeth, paint on this solution, wait for a few seconds and then I can bond straight away.
There is nothing special needed to remove Transbond. It’s simply a bonding agent that comes off when the braces are removed.
What’s not so good
There is a danger that if it is smeared over the gums, it can create a very light bleaching burn. If this happens it generally disappears within 24 hours but you do have to be a little bit cautious when applying it to the teeth.
Initially, the bond strength is weaker than traditional etch and bond. You have to be very careful when applying force to the braces in the first 24 hours. However, it soon gains strength and then there are no issues. It’s also a good idea to warn patients to be a little more careful in the first 24-hour period.
Where did you get it
3M Unitek.
