Debra Brackets

DEBRA® brackets are primary tooth brackets that are used as part of a highly efficient and effective treatment protocol for correcting malocclusion in early mixed dentition.  The unique design allows the brackets to conform well to primary teeth while also being easy to remove/debond, resulting in a much better patient experience.

Features and Benefits of the Brackets

Circular and ovoid bracket bases
Allows for easy rotation when used as anchors to intrude or extrude the permanent incisors while still conforming to the deciduous teeth.

Four-sided debonding tabs
Allows for easier removal, which significantly reduces patient discomfort during debonding.

Peripheral rim and central slit
Controls adhesive flow, as excess bonding material flows out the central slit. This leaves the debonding pad area free of adhesives, allowing easy access for pliers to debond the brackets. The central slit also allows the bracket to crumple for easy debonding and increased patient comfort.

How it Works

Early Mixed Dentition Protocol

DEBRA brackets are a key part of our early treatment protocol that uses maxillary/mandibular expanders, deciduous brackets, and permanent brackets. The protocol leverages the expansion and alignment capabilities of fixed appliances to correct developing malocclusion in early mixed dentition. DEBRA brackets are designed specifically for use on deciduous canines and molars. The protocol virtually eliminates the need for extraction of teeth (less than 1% of patients need extraction) and is definitive (no need for a second phase of treatment) for 70% of patients under the age of 8.5 years and 80% under the age of 8 years. Detailed information about our treatment protocol can be accessed at www.interceptiveortho.com.

DEBRA brackets are bonded to the primary teeth for effective dentoaveolar expansion of the buccal segment in both arches. This creates space for efficient alignment of the permanent incisors with conventional brackets.  

The circular and ovoid shapes of the bracket bases allows for easy clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation when used as anchors to extrude or intrude the permanent incisors. This allows for treatment of open bite and deep overbite.

Easy Debonding for an Improved Patient Experience

The combination of several features, including four-sided debonding tabs, a peripheral rim, and central slit, make DEBRA brackets much easier to debond from the primary teeth than conventional brackets. The peripheral rim and central slit in the bracket base control the flow of adhesive, allowing it to stay within the base while the excess adhesive flows out of the central slit. This leaves the outer aspect of the brackets free of adhesive, making the four-sided debonding tabs easy to engage with pliers. Another aspect of the central slit feature is that it allows the DEBRA brackets to crumple toward the center, reducing the pressure placed on the primary teeth during bracket removal.

Conventional brackets which are designed for bonding to permanent teeth do not have the aforementioned features, making them much more difficult to debond from primary teeth without hurting the patient.