Self-ligating brackets and treatment efficiency

Harradine NWT. Clinical Orthodontics and Research 2001; 4:220-227.

Objective

To compare treatment times, speed of ligation and quality of outcome in cases treated with Damon™ SL brackets versus conventional straightwire twin brackets.

Methodology

A total of 60 patients were enrolled in this study. Out of those patients, 30 consecutive patients were treated with Damon SL brackets and 30 with conventional brackets. All were treated by the author utilizing conventional treatment mechanics. All cases were evaluated for treatment times, time required for wire changes, and finally, for quality of outcome as determined by the PAR* scoring method.

Results

• Treatment times for the Damon patients were 4 months shorter than those treated with conventional brackets.
• Patients treated with Damon brackets required 30% fewer appointments.
• Damon bracket slide opening and closing was significantly faster than conventional bracket ligation.
• Starting from statistically equivalent PAR scores, Damon cases finished an average of 20% better than non-Damon cases.

Conclusion

Damon orthodontics treatment is faster, requires less chairtime and fewer appointments, and yields higher quality results* than conventionally ligated straightwire appliances.