Investigate the duration of mandibular incisor crowding alleviation of two different self-ligating brackets types versus conventional brackets.

Self-ligating brackets have been used in orthodontic practice since 1930. In the past 2 decades, there has been a boast in the manufacturing and release of self-ligating appliance with active or passive ligation modes. The aim of this study was to investigate the duration of mandibular incisor crowding alleviation, pain perception and bacterial plaque accumulation with self-ligating brackets compared with conventional appliances.Sixty nine subjects were included to the study from the patients attending Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics. The patients were randomly assigned into three groups: to the 23 patients (15 female, 8 male) in the first group Damon SL 2, to the 23 patients (15 female, 8 male) in the second group Quick 2 and to the 23 patients (15 female, 8 male) in the third group OmniArch brackets were applied.After bonding of the brackets 0.012 inch NiTi arch wires were applied. The arch wire was changed every two months with an 0.014 inch and 0.016 x 0.025 inch NiTi arch wire. At every session the plaque accumulation was assessed by applying plaque disclosing tablets. Also pain perception of the patients were assessed by giving the patients a diary to fill out. At every archwire change, chair time was recorded. Patients were informed to monitor their lower incisor crowding during the study. They were educated on a study model about the criteria for crowding correction. Treatment duration was calculated as days.There was no difference in the time required to correct mandibular crowding with Damon 2, Quick 2 and conventional brackets (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between Damon 2 and Quick 2 for plaque index (p>0.05).The plaque index for the Damon 2 and Quick 2 brackets were significantly higher than the OmniArch brackets (p<0.05). As for the pain perception there was no significant difference between the Damon 2 and Quick 2 self ligating and OmniArch conventional brackets (p>0.05). For both self ligating and conventional brackets there was a statistically significant reduction in pain perception on the 3rd day (p<0.05). The shortest ligation time was measured for the active self ligating bracket Quick 2 followed by the passive self ligating brackets Damon 2. The longest ligation time was registered for the conventional OmniArch brackets with stainless steel ligatures.As a result; there has been no difference between the Damon 2, Quick 2 and OmniArch brackets in the duration of correction of mandibular incisor crowding. The only advantage of self ligating brackets is the shorter chairtime spent compared with conventional brackets.Keywords: Self ligating brackets, leveling, pain, plaque retention, chairtime.