Objectives. Adverse events in orthodontic practice are infrequently described in the literature. The objective of this review is to determine and analyse such adverse events. Materials and methods. The search for articles was performed using the PubMed database. The key words were "adverse event," "adverse events" and "orthodontics", separated by the Boolean operator "AND". The criteria of inclusion and validity of variables, by which the data were sought, permitted to select the references by verifying in the Summary the specification of study type, sample, results, discussion and conclusions. Results. The initial search produced 68 records, 49 of which were eliminated because they did not meet the criteria for inclusion, whereas 19 were included in the qualitative analysis. Because these studies used different methodologies, it was not possible to complete a quantitative analysis. The main adverse events included were root resorption, pulp damage, periodontal damage, inhalation or ingestion of orthodontic products and apparatuses, hypersensitivity to nickel and to other orthodontic materials, hypersensitivity to paracetamol, restricted jaw movement and craniomandibular dysfunction. Discussion and conclusions. The study highlights the importance of keeping proper medical and dental records, complete diagnostic records, informed consent forms and proper treatment protocols. Most adverse events associated with orthodontic practice are of low to moderate severity and are avoidable in most cases.