The use of bovine enamel in bonding studies

Bovine enamel is commonly used in enamel bonding studies, therefore, a familiarity with some aspects of bovine enamel bonding are important in order to evaluate the studies. Bovine enamel has the advantages of easy attainability and similar microstructure to human enamel. In this study the strength of the enamel bond using an orthodontic adhesive was compared between deciduous bovine, permanent bovine, and human enamel, as well as, the effect on bond strength of multiple rebonding to bovine enamel. This study found that the bond strength to bovine enamel was 21% to 44% weaker than to human enamel, and the bond strength to deciduous bovine enamel was significantly greater than to permanent bovine enamel. Either all deciduous or all permanent bovine incisors should be used, or permanent and deciduous bovine incisors evenly distributed in sample groups. Bovine enamel was rebonded five times without significantly affecting bond strength, thus, bovine enamel can be reused in bonding studies without significantly affecting the results.(Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1998;113:514-9)