Bonding orthodontic brackets with glass-ionomer cement

This is a clinical paper outlining the experience of an enthusiastic group of seven individuals in different local orthodontic practices who, over a period of six years, have bonded some 99% of the metal orthodontic brackets to tooth enamel using glass ionomer cement (GIC). Up until recently GIC has been little used within the orthodontic world for the cementing of orthodontic brackets, composite resin being the conventional adhesive. We use GIC as a bracket adhesive because there is a very low incidence of tooth enamel decalcification occurring around the brackets with its use compared with the more universally used composite resin adhesives. This paper details the perceived clinical advantages and disadvantages, and then defines the three critical areas for successful bonding with GIC, followed by a description of the chairside technique.