Surface degradation and corrosion has been associated with metallic orthodontic appliances after immersion in cleanser solutions. Appliances containing either a gold- or a silver-soldered connection in cleanser solutions have, in addition, been related to increased corrosion and deterioration of the joint strength. This study systematically analyzes the corrosion susceptibility of stainless steel and cobalt-chrome orthodontic wires with soldered connections in the cleanser systems of Kleenite, DOC, Efferdent, and Polident. The corrosion of the alloy-cleanser systems was monitored by following the electrochemical polarization trends. Comparison of the polarization behavior for the base alloy wires, for the gold and silver solders, and for the wire-solder couples in the cleanser systems indicates a variation in corrosion resistance for the alloy-cleans er combinations. The cleansers with high pH (11.5) and a high ppm Cl- content (103 to 104), Kleenite and DOC, exhibit lower corrosion resistance toward all base wires, solders, and wire-solder couples than the mildly basic (pH = 7 to 8.5) and low Cl- content (10 to 102 ppm) cleansers, Efferdent and Polident. Elgiloy and stainless steel with a gold-soldered connection is more corrosion resistant in Efferdent and Polident than the same agents with a silver-soldered connection. This distinction for wire-solder combinations cannot be made with the Kleenite and DOC cleansers. The incorporation of oxidizing agents, such as perborate, in the cleanser formulations is thought to be a factor responsible for the significantly lower corrosion resistance of the Co-Cr alloys in cleansers relative to a saline solution. © 1979.
