Debonding (getting braces off)
Debonding is the removal of brackets bonded to the teeth at the end of treatment with braces, the step a 2022 randomized trial in the Angle Orthodontist describes as brackets being debonded once good occlusion had been achieved.
Taking the brackets off, as the AAO and a trial describe it
Debonding is the step that takes braces off the teeth, and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) describes it on its page about what to expect after braces removal without using the word: the orthodontist removes the brackets, wires and bands with specialized orthodontic instruments, and the team then polishes away any remaining bonding adhesive.
The word itself turns up in clinical research. A 2022 randomized trial in the Angle Orthodontist records the moment in its methods: “Once good occlusion had been achieved, brackets were debonded and final records were taken.” The AAO’s page says the removal appointment “may also include a final evaluation of your tooth alignment and bite.”
A debond during treatment: the word’s second meaning
Debonding has a second meaning in orthodontic research, a bracket that comes off a tooth before treatment is finished, and a 2018 Cochrane review of the adhesives used to bond brackets uses the word that way in its methods: “The primary outcome was debond or bracket failure.”
In that sense a debond is something to report, not a planned step. The AAO’s FAQ says: “If you notice a bracket is loose or if a wire has worked itself out of place, or if there is unusual discomfort, notify your orthodontist immediately.”
Getting braces off, and the retention that follows
Getting braces off is the everyday name for debonding, and in the AAO glossary’s account a retainer comes next, worn after braces are removed; the page about retainers after braces come off names the kinds the practice offers.
For the parts that come off, and how they move teeth before then, go to the braces treatment page. Bracket, molar band and ligature each have an entry in the glossary’s braces vocabulary.
Sources
- American Association of Orthodontists, What to Expect After Braces Removal: A Patient’s Guide
- Lin and colleagues, The Angle Orthodontist, 2022, Differences in finished case quality between Invisalign and traditional fixed appliances: A randomized controlled trial
- Mandall and colleagues, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018 (PubMed record), Adhesives for fixed orthodontic brackets
- American Association of Orthodontists, Orthodontic FAQs: Your Questions Answered (listing page 13, read November 6, 2026)
- American Association of Orthodontists, Orthodontic Glossary: Braces & Dental Terms Defined
Debonding and the retainer after it: ask at a consultation
Say how far along your braces are in your request for a consultation from this page.
Domain, Downtown and Westlake: Monday to Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Updated .