Bond Failure
The detachment of an orthodontic bracket or attachment from the tooth surface during the course of treatment, also referred to as a bracket de-bond or loose bracket.
Full Definition
Bond failure is one of the most frequently documented clinical events in fixed orthodontic treatment records. It occurs when adhesion between the bracket base and the enamel surface breaks down, most commonly at the bracket–adhesive interface or the adhesive–enamel interface. In clinical records and audit documents, editors must distinguish 'bond failure' from 'debond', which refers to the deliberate removal of appliances at the end of treatment. Bond failure should be recorded using consistent terminology; 'loose bracket', 'bracket de-bond', and 'failed bond' are synonymous in colloquial use but should be standardised in formal documentation.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from 'debond', which denotes intentional appliance removal at treatment completion. Standardise variant spellings to 'bond failure' in formal documents. Do not hyphenate: 'bond failure' not 'bond-failure'.
In Context
- "A bond failure on the upper-right first premolar was recorded at the six-week review appointment." — Clinical notes
- "The editor standardised four variant spellings—'bond failure', 'bond-failure', 'bracket de-bond', and 'loose bracket'—to 'bond failure' throughout the audit report." — Proofreading note