TOOTH PREPARATION

1. PROPHY the enamel surfaces to be bonded with plain pumice. Do not use prophy pastes that contain oil or fluoride. Rinse thoroughly and dry teeth with oil and moisture-free compressed air. Do not allow the patient to rinse.
2. ISOLATE the cleaned teeth. A clean, dry surface is desirable for a good etch.
3. DISPENSE 1 to 2 drops of etching solution/Gel onto the dispensing pad. Use a cotton pledget or brush and apply etching solution with a DABBING motion to the prophyed teeth to be bonded. DO NOT RUB, as rubbing breaks the exposed enamel
   rods, which will result in a weak bond. Continuous application of etching solution for 60 seconds will provide the most desirable etch. Fluoridated and deciduous teeth may require a longer etch period of an additional 30 seconds.
4. RINSE thoroughly with water. At this point, do not allow the patient to rinse or contaminate the enamel surface. Re-isolate and dry the tooth thoroughly. The etched area should appear frosty white. ETCHED ENAMEL MUST NOT BE CONTAMINATED BY
   SALIVA. IF CONTAMINATION DOES OCCUR, RE-ETCH FOR 20-30 SECONDS, DRY, AND REISOLATE.

APPLICATION OF ADHESIVE BRACKET PLACEMENT

1. Apply a thin coat primer to each etched, dry tooth in the area to which the bracket is to be bonded, and the underside of
   each bracket base using a small disposable primer brush. This brush may be used for all teeth of a single patient, provided if is NOT contaminated with saliva or ADHESIVE PASTE. For PLASTIC brackets, allow approximately 45 seconds prior to application of ADHESIVE PASTE. This conditions the plastic brackets for a strong chemical bond with the adhesive.
2. Apply a small quantity of adhesive paste to the underside of the bracket base and place it on the tooth.
3. Place the bracket on the prepared tooth, you have the time that you require to do the correct collocation of the bracket, once the bracket is in place, active the composite adhesive with the curing lamp all around the bracket and behind the tooth for at least 90 seconds. Do not move the bracket once the adhesive hardens. A thin layer is essential to a strong bond. Excess adhesive can be easily removed from the periphery of the bracket base after all brackets are in place.
4. Approximately 5 minutes after placement of the last bracket, check for loose bonds, starting with the first bracket bonded.
   Follow removal procedures and repeat the complete bonding procedures for any loose brackets. An active archwire can be inserted 5 minutes after complete bracket placement.

BRACKET & ADHESIVE REMOVAL

1. To remove bonded bracket/base use a ligature cutter to grab the adhesive at the enamel adhesive interface and slowly peel the bracket/base of the tooth. Avoid a shearing or twisting force.
2. Surfaces may be cleaned with a sealing instrument and polished with pumice.