This in vitro study was designed to determine the effect of time on the measured mean force to debond when brackets were bonded using resin-modified glass poly(alkenoate) cements and to compare them with a light-cured diacrylate. Changes in surface topography and composition of the cements were also investigated. Stainless steel orthodontic brackets were bonded to 160 upper premolar teeth in four test groups: Transbond, Fuji Ortho LC, and 3 M Multi-Cure with and without enamel etching. Shear bond testing to failure was performed after 1 hour, 1 week, 1 month, and 1 year. The first three groups were then rebonded and stored for the same time periods before being shear tested again. Debond force was recorded in Newtons and the locus of bond failure was scored using the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI). Surface topography and composition of the test materials were also studied at time periods of 1 day, and 1, 6, and 18 months, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). The mean force to debond (N) was observed to increase with time in all four test groups, with there being little significant difference between the groups. When the same brackets were rebonded, the mean force to debond reduced. Surface topography and compositional changes over time were only observed with the resin-modified glass poly(alkenoate) cements. Resin-modified glass poly(alkenoate) cements have a mean force to debond comparable with diacrylate bonding agents. However, unlike diacrylates they undergo surface changes with time, the significance of which is unknown.