COMPARAÇÃO DA DEGRADAÇÃO DA FORÇA DE ELÁSTICOS ORTODONTICOS INTERMAXILARES DE LÁTEX E SINTÉTICOS QUANDO SUBMETIDOS À DISTENSÃO EM SALIVA ARTIFICIAL.

Introduction: synthetic intermaxillary elastics have emerged as an alternative for orthodontic use in patients with latex sensitivity, but differences can be observed when compared to natural latex elastics. Objective: compare the amount of force degradation of synthetic intermaxillary elastics and latex when distended in artificial saliva in order to find clinical parameters for the use of a protocol on the frequency of exchange of these elastics in orthodontic therapies in patients with latex sensitivity or not. Method: for this, two groups containing 30 elastics were used. Group 1 with 30 medium strength and diameter 5/16 "Morelli latex elastics and group 2, 30 synthetic latex-free elastics, also of the medium strength and 5/16" diameter Morelli brand. They were stretched 4cm and submerged in artificial saliva at 37 degrees Celsius and had strength measured with orthodontic dynamometer at the beginning and at the intervals of 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours after immersion. The force degradation assessment was performed by calculating the percentage of force lost in relation to the initial force at each time interval, for each group tested separately and also between them. Results and discussion: the mean elastic values of both silicone and latex had a similar percentage for the degradation of forces, since after the first 24 hours the greatest force decline occurred, of approximately 11% both elastics. After 48 hours this percentage did not change significantly. Conclusion: elastics should be changed within 48 hours so that the force applied remains at acceptable rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]