A clinical trial comparing the failure rates of two orthodontic bonding systems

A clinical trial was carried out to compare the failure rates of a visible light-cured fluoride-releasing material with a chemically cured adhesive. Fifty patients were used for the trial and 762 brackets were bonded in a split-mouth experimental design. Bracket failures were reported over the full period of orthodontic treatment. Statistical data analysis was carried out by means of chi 2 tests. The results of this study indicate that brackets, bonded with a chemically cured material (Lee Insta-bond, Lee Pharmaceuticals, EI Monte, Calif.), showed significantly fewer failures than brackets bonded with the light-cured material (Orthon, Orthon Dental Inc., Victoria, Canada). When the site of bond failure was evaluated in an overall manner, there were significantly more lower than upper, and more posterior than anterior bond failures.