Direct vs. Indirect Bonding

A solo dental practice evaluated 200 consecutively-treated patients and compared the resulting treatment of direct and indirect bonding.

The study to be shared was undertaken in one dental office by one doctor. It involved 200 consecutively-treated patients who were randomly and alternatively assigned to two methods of treatment. The first involved indirect bonding and the second was direct bonding. Treatment times and deviations from the averages were recorded. Bond failure was rigorously recorded and, to the best ability of the clinician, the reason for failure was determined. The average time to place initial bonds was recorded using both techniques.

There is a paucity of literature on indirect versus direct bonding. In this study, the single treating clinician has over 30 years experience in orthodontics with a distinguished clinical career. He wanted to re-examine the two bonding modes because previous literature is outdated, did not have standard treatment approaches, bonding techniques, or have the same operator performing the procedures. These variations make it difficult, if not impossible, to make conclusions about indirect and direct bonding.