A difference in application time between two direct orthodontic bonding methods: A prospective randomized clinical trial

Objective: This clinical study aimed to evaluate the difference in the time of application phase, employing the conventional and modified direct orthodontic bonding method. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients who needed orthodontic therapy with fixed appliances were randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 15): the control and experimental group, according to the bonding method applied. A total of 600 metal brackets inch slot 0.022 (Mini Sprint (R), Forestadent, Germany) were bonded to incisors, canines, and premolars using the light-cured adhesive Transbond XT (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA). The failure rates of the brackets were evaluated within 12 months. The independent samples t-test was applied. The Chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The initial bonding time using the modified method was significantly shorter (3.27 min or 17.1% per patient) compared with the conventional bonding method (p < 0.001). Number of failed brackets between the two methods did not differ significantly (p = 0.226). Conclusion: The time of the application phase in initial bonding using the modified method (experimental group) was shorter than in control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of bond failures between the two methods. Clinical Significance: The modified application phase of direct orthodontic bracket placement shortens the total bonding time and facilitates the manual work of orthodontists.