Metal brackets and ceramic brackets were bonded to natural teeth, porcelain crowns and gold crowns. After stored in artificial saliva solution for 72 hours at 37°C, the shear bond strengths were measured by Instron and compared with them, the bonding sites and bracket bases were examined by scanning electron microscope and light optical stereomicroscope. The results were as follows: 1. The shear bond strengths of the group which metal brackets were bonded to natural teeth and the groups which ceramic brackets were bonded to natural teeth and porcelain crowns were comparable to each other, the shear bond strength of the group which metal brackets were bonded to gold crowns was significantly low. 2. The bond failed predominantly at the bracket base/adhesive interface with the bulk of adhesive remaining on enamel in the group which metal brackets were bonded to natural teeth. 3. The bond failed consistently at the crown/adhesive interface with all of adhesive remaining on the bracket bases in the group which metal brackets were bonded to gold crowns. 4. The bond failed at the enamel or crown/adhesive interface with the bulk of adhesive remaining on the bracket bases in the groups which cramic brackets were bonded to natural teeth and porcelain crowns. 5. The shear bond strengths of the groups which ceramic brackets were bonded to porcelain crowns were not affected by etching time.