Unstimulated saliva was collected from orthodontic patients and subjected to combined gas-chromatography and gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry analyses. Saliva was collected before insertion of removable orthodontic appliances made of cold-cured resins. Saliva was then collected 1-2 months after insertion of the appliances and 1 week after they had been removed. Phenyl benzoate (PB) and phenyl salicylate (PS) were identified in pooled saliva samples from patients wearing the appliances. Biphenyl and 2-methoxy-4-hydroxy-beilzo-phenone in addition to PB and PS were identified in a study with in vitro specimens made of orthodontic resin. The leaching of compounds from these test specimens processed by a powdering technique and a pre-mix technique was compared.