A three-cycle in vivo evaluation of reconditioned direct-bonding brackets.

To evaluate the potential for reducing costs without impairing the quality of orthodontic treatment, the practicality of the reuse of direct bonding brackets has been evaluated for three 1 1/2-year cycles. Although the percentage of appliances damaged during removal and those of enlarged slots slightly increases with each reuse, the average arch wire adjustments needed to accommodate the variety of cases and the percentages of bond failures remain almost the same. The reuse of "dissolution"-reprocessed appliances thus becomes an effective way by which the clinician can keep overhead costs lower while the cost of new appliances are steadily climbing.