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AbstractThis study aims to compare the effectiveness of three different pliers in debondingstainless steel and ceramic brackets, also to evaluate enamel surface damage and thesite of bond failure after debonding.Sixty premolars, extracted for orthodontic purposes, were divided into 3 groups of20. The enamel surfaces were examined with 10X magnifying lens. Two types ofbracket (stainless steel and ceramic) was bonded and debonded in each group using:conventional debonding pliers, bracket removal pliers, and ligature wire cutter. Afterdebonding, the enamel surfaces were inspected under a stereomicroscope to determinethe predominant site of bond failure. Then stereomicroscope was used to evaluateenamel surface damage after the removal of residual adhesive.The enamel surface damage showed a statistically significant difference in ceramicbracket groups, whereas, it was statistically insignificant in stainless steel bracketgroups. The amount of the adhesive remained on the tooth surface was statisticallyinsignificant in both stainless steel and ceramic bracket groups. The predominantfailure site was within the adhesive itself for both types of brackets.The enamel surface damage that results from debonding of ceramic brackets washigher than that found with the stainless steel brackets especially with the use ofbracket removal pliers "used in this study"

Key words: enamel surface damage --- debonding --- pliers.