摘要 |
Plastic orthodontic brackets having an adherent acrylic adhesive primer layer on the bonding surface thereof are disclosed, as well as methods of making such brackets. Primed plastic orthodontic brackets which are shelf-stable and which obviate the need for the chairside primers commonly used by clinicians are contemplated. In a method of the present invention, a solvating mixture of solvents and acrylic monomers is applied to the bonding surface of a plastic bracket and allowed to attack (solvate) and diffuse into the plastic substrate. Thereafter the bracket is heated to volatilize the solvents and lower molecular weight monomers to thereby leave a coating or layer of acrylic material which is predominantly monomeric and is at least partially embedded in the plastic bracket. This coating acts as a primer for acrylic cements and enhances the bonding between the plastic orthodontic bracket and the tooth surface to which it is applied using acrylic adhesive cements which are themselves well known in the art.
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