Bond strength comparison: a simplified indirect technique versus direct placement of brackets

Two methods for orthodontic bonding were used to attach brackets to 48 incisor and 48 premolar extracted human teeth. Half of the sample teeth were bonded by means of a highly filled bis-GMA adhesive by a direct placement method. The remaining teeth were bonded with the same adhesive by an indirect method suggested by Thomas. Actual chairside bonding procedures were simulated with regard to the timing and manipulation of adhesives and attachments. Tensile and shear bond strengths are reported for each of the two methods of bracket attachment.