Evaluation of the effects of damon and conventional bracket systems on dentoalveoler structures in patients with skeletal class 1 malocclusion

Objective: The aim of this study is to retrospectively compare the effects of Damon self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets on skeletal, dental, soft tissue and smile aesthetics in the treatment of patients with mild or moderate crowding Class I malocclusion. Method: Fifteen the passive Damon brackets treated patients in the first group and the fifteen conventional MBT system brackets treated patients in the second group were selected. Pretreatment lateral cephalometric radiographs, panoramic radiographs, extraoral photographs and orthodontic plaster models were described as baseline (T1) and compared with post-treatment (T2) records. Angular and linear measurements and hard and soft tissue changes were evaluated on lateral cephalometric images. Measurements were performed on digital models obtained from scanned plaster models T1 and T2 timepoints. Linear measurements were performed by standardization of non-oral photographs taken on T1 and T2 timepoints of each patient. Resuts: Groups were similar in terms of age, gender and initial cephalometric values. In both groups, the upper and lower incisional teeth angles increased significantly after treatment; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Changes in soft tissue profile measurements were similar in groups. As a result of dental model measurements; groups were found to be statistically similar. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of smile aesthetics. Conclusion: The treatment effects and clinical efficacy of both bracket systems are similar. Key words: Damon system, conventional system, class I dental crowding, smile aesthetics