A comparative study on time efficiency management of self ligating brackets with conventional ligating brackets on orthodontic subjects in North Karnataka

Background: Self-Ligating brackets were originally designed with the intention to reduce the time needed to change wires compared with the use of wire ligatures. However, the advent of elastomeric ligatures meant that this perceived advantage was diminished. Objective: To compare aligning efficiency, rate of retraction and torque expression of Self Ligating bracket (SLB) system with Conventional Pre adjusted Edgewise bracket (CLB) system. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients were selected and divided into two groups treated with self ligating brackets (SLB, n=6) and conventional ligating brackets (CLB, n=6). The brackets used were 0.22 slot McLaughlin Bennet Trevesi (MBT) prescription. Aligning was evaluated with 0.14 Niti followed by 19X25 Heat Activated Ni Ti and then 19X25 stainless steel wires for retraction within 4 months. The rate of retraction was evaluated per month and torque loss after space closure was also estimated. Results: Alignment Efficiency shows significant changes with SLB compared to CLB and also save more than 30% of chair side time during wire adjustments while rate of en masse retraction in SLB shows statistically non significance as compared to CLB system. In case of upper incisor changes when compared between two groups showed less torque loss in SLB than CLB although which was statistically no significant but % difference show SLB have better improvement result than CLB