How long does it take for glue to fully harden?

[NKovaci88]

My ortho replaced a molar band with a regular bracket last appointment, and immediately attached a class II elastic to the newly placed bracket. A couple of hours later, the bracket broke off (I'm guessing because of the pressure of the elastic?)

How long should one wait to use elastics after gluing on a bracket? Does it usually take a couple of days for it to harden, or can pressure be placed on it right away?

[kilikena311]

My doctors office told me not to eat anything really for 20 minutes after repositioning one of my brackets, and I think that was probably to give it time to dry. They do not use the light thingy to set the glue for the brackets at their office. I have never had a bracket break off, but I'm not really sure on the drying time.

[braceface418]

I had a bracket break off a few hours after an appointment and I suspect it was because it wasn't bonded properly. The ortho suggesting something along those lines when I went in to have it rebonded the next day as well. I think there are some things that can interfere, such as not having the site dry enough when they bond it.

Was the bracket being attached to a regular tooth or a crown or something? That's a little more complicated, so maybe the tooth surface wasn't prepped properly.

[braceface418]

Oh, to actually answer your original question, I think you should be able to load them immediately unless instructed otherwise. They often put wires into brackets that have just been bonded and I imagine that exerts a fair amount of force on the bracket as well.

[evilnel]

I think you have to be careful with sudden pressure (ie: biting into something really hard) but something with slower pressure should be okay. As the above poster said, the brackets get wires right away, so they are obviously meant to withstand some pressure.

[4113n]

If i recall correctly, it takes 1 day to become stable / fully harden.

[drrick]

is it light cure or self cure?

Big difference.