Micrographic evaluation of different widia compositions of orthodontic pliers submitted to peracetic acid and intensive use

Introduction: The sterilization and disinfection procedures should be adapted to the chemical profile of the metal alloys present in the instruments. Objective: This study aimed to perform a micrographic assessment on the surface characteristics of the widia of orthodontic pliers with two alloy compositions subjected to the action of 0.2% peracetic acid and intensive use. Material and method: Twenty distal cutting pliers were divided into two groups (n=10) according to widia composition (%wt): W185% to 87% of tungsten carbide (TC) and other components in the proportion of 13% to 15% and W2 – 87.5% to 88.5% of tungsten carbide and 11.5% to 12.5% for other components. All the pliers were assessed in a stereoscopic magnifying glass (32x) after three treatments: before use (T0); after cutting 100 segments of rectangular stainless-steel wires – intensive use (T1); and after 100 sterilization cycles in 0.2% peracetic acid and intensive use (T2). The cutting sites of all pliers were standardized. Widia regions were defined by line “A” representing T1 and line “B” representing T2. A frequency distribution table and Fisher’s exact test (α=0.05) was performed. We assessed two widia from each composition and treatment in SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/SEM). Result: The results showed that W1 pliers presented Micrographic evaluation of different... Rev Odontol UNESP. 2020;49:e20200021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-2577.02120 2/9 significantly fewer defects after the sterilization cycles with peracetic acid and intensive use than W2 pliers (p=0.0198). There were no differences between both pliers after intensive use (p=1.000). Conclusion: The SEM images and EDS analyses showed changes in widia surfaces after the different treatments. Widia composition affected the resistance of the orthodontic pliers after sterilization cycles with 0.2% peracetic acid and intensive use. Descriptors: Sterilization; orthodontics; peracetic acid.