Indirect Bonding
A bracket placement technique in which brackets are positioned on a laboratory model and then transferred to the patient's teeth en masse using a custom tray, in contrast to the conventional direct chair-side bonding method.
Full Definition
Indirect bonding offers potential advantages in bracket placement accuracy and reduced chair time. In clinical records and laboratory instructions, it is important to distinguish this technique from direct bonding (bracket placed directly on the tooth surface in the patient's mouth). Editors working on technique-comparison studies or clinical audit documents should ensure the methodology section clearly states which system was used. 'Indirect bonding' should not be hyphenated ('indirect-bonding') unless used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., 'indirect-bonding tray').
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate only when used attributively before a noun: 'indirect-bonding tray'. Do not hyphenate in predicate position: 'the bonding was indirect'. Distinguish clearly from direct bonding in methods sections.
In Context
- "Indirect bonding was selected to improve bracket placement accuracy on the lingually positioned lower incisors." — Laboratory prescription
- "The editor added a hyphen to 'indirect bonding tray', rendering it as 'indirect-bonding tray' when used attributively." — Copyediting note