Degradation of the Strength of Elastomeric Chains Exposed to Energy Drinks in a Simulated Oral Environment.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the degradation of strength in memory elastomeric chains after repeated exposure to different energy drinks under simulated oral cavity conditions. Methods: The study included 180 memory elastomeric chains from three commercial brands. Their initial strength was measured at six time points after daily immersion in energy drinks. A descriptive analysis was performed, and the assumptions of repeated-measures ANOVA were verified. ANOVA was then applied to evaluate the variation in strength according to brand and immersion solution, followed by Tukey's post-hoc test (p<0.05). Results: The decrease in strength of various brands of elastomeric chains intensified over time, following a similar decay pattern. The elastomeric chains lost approximately 46% of their initial strength after 28 days of immersion in an energy drink, compared to a loss of 43% in the control group. Among the manufacturers evaluated, one group exhibited the greatest resistance to force degradation. Conclusion: Considering the effects of manufacturer, duration, and type of energy drink, exposure to these beverages significantly accelerates force degradation in elastomeric chains. These findings support limiting the consumption of energy drinks during orthodontic treatment or selecting materials with greater resistance to force degradation.