Most orthodontists have recommended braces to their patients. Braces are key in fixing or realigning crooked teeth and treating open bites. It is also not uncommon for orthodontists to combine braces with Nickel Titanium closed coil springs to modify the space between teeth.
Dental braces come with small fixtures known as brackets—these attach to the teeth. Then as an orthodontist, you run a Nickel Titanium archwire through the brackets and adjust it to apply the right amount of force to move the teeth into the desired position.
For the archwire to produce the desired results, you must secure it in the brackets. You must use metal ties or elastic bands when working with traditional braces. However, self-ligating braces come with an inbuilt system that holds the archwire.
More orthodontic patients are becoming interested in self-ligating braces. Our goal in this detailed guide is to help you understand why. Keep reading to learn more.
Self-Ligating Braces: The Two Main Types
When discussing self-ligating braces—also known as self-ligating brackets—we must mention they come in 2 main types: passive and active. Both types utilize a small gate- or door-like mechanism to close over the bracket, holding the archwire. However, below, we will look at how they differ:
Active brackets: These utilize a spring clip sliding mechanism. They press against the NiTi heat-activated archwire applying a dynamic force.
Passive brackets: These rely on a simple sliding mechanism. Unlike active self-ligating braces, they do not press the archwire dynamically.
Why More People Request the Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces carry more benefits than traditional braces. The growing demand for self-ligating brackets is resulting from:
1. Shorter & Fewer Orthodontic Sessions
With traditional braces, you must replace individual ligatures every time your patients visit your office.
In the case of self-ligating braces, the orthodontist opens the bracket, adjusts the archwire using a pair of orthodontic pliers, and then shuts the brackets. This consumes significantly less time than replacing the ligatures on traditional braces.
Moreover, self-ligating braces require fewer adjustments than traditional braces, reducing the need for your patients to visit your office. The patients save time by not visiting often and spending less time on the orthodontic chair per visit.
2. Easier Cleaning
The ligatures on traditional brackets trap food. Your patients won’t have to deal with ligatures on self-ligating braces. Therefore, self-ligating braces are easier to clean than conventional braces.
3. Reduced Discomfort
Both traditional braces and self-ligating braces do feature some discomfort. After all, the two options must apply force to facilitate midline correction or realign teeth. However, your patients will experience less pain using self-ligating braces than traditional brackets.
4. Less Noticeable
One primary concern for orthodontic patients is drawing attention when improving their smile. Compared to traditional braces, self-ligating braces are smaller.
Technology allows the miniaturization of self-ligating braces, making them less noticeable. With a small size, self-ligating braces also feature more comfort for the cheeks and lips.
5. Shorter Treatment Time
Orthodontic patients want to wear orthodontic devices—including orthodontic micro-implants—for the shortest possible period. Self-ligating braces could make this possible.
Movement of teeth involves sliding braces on the orthodontic NiTi archwire. Elastic bands on traditional braces complicate this process and slow it down.
Self-ligating braces, however, feature less friction as they slide on archwires, speeding up the orthodontic treatment.
Self-Ligating Braces Effectiveness: What the Research Says
November 2001 Study
A research study in November 2001 analyzed the treatment efficiency of self-ligated braces to that of conventional braces. In the study, the researchers used self-ligating braces produced by a brand known as Damon.
The results from the study showed that the Damon self-ligating brackets reduced treatment times and needed fewer orthodontic appointments. Moreover, the researchers determined that the self-ligating braces generated higher patient satisfaction scores.
The patients indicated that the self-ligating braces shortened their treatment period. On average, the Damon self-ligated braces needed four fewer orthodontic office visits and four fewer months to finish the treatment.
June 2001 Study
A study conducted in June 2001 analyzed the clinical efficiency of self-ligated braces. In this study, the researchers sent out a mail carrying a questionnaire to 40 random orthodontists who had used both traditional braces and self-ligating dental braces.
Nearly all—97 percent—of the orthodontists reported saving time while changing archwires on the self-ligated braces compared to when their patient had a conventional ligated brace. The study results concluded that using self-ligated braces is a cost-effective treatment technique for both the patients and the orthodontists.
2014 Study
Researchers conducted a study in 2014 to analyze the discomfort in people wearing traditional braces vs. those wearing self-ligating braces. The researchers discovered that the people wearing the traditional braces experienced more pain than those wearing the self-ligating braces.
2019 Study
Researchers conducted a study in 2019 to analyze the effectiveness of self-ligating Damon3 braces compared to conventional MBT braces. The study used 30 patients between 14 and 20 years who required non-extraction treatment in their mandibular and maxillary arches.
The researchers divided the subjects into two groups, each with 15 patients. One group used the Damon3 self-ligating braces, while the other used MBT traditional braces.
The rate of dental alignment in the group using the Damon3 self-ligating braces was significantly higher than in the group using the MBT traditional braces. During the 4-month alignment stage, significantly more improvement was seen in the group using the self-ligating braces than in the conventional dental braces.
Overview
Unlike traditional braces that rely on metal ties and elastic bands to hold the NiTi wires in place during teeth alignment, self-ligating braces feature a built-in mechanism that holds the NiTi wires in place. Patients love self-ligating braces for many reasons, including easy cleaning, reduced discomfort, and fewer & shorter orthodontic visits.
This research study compares traditional braces and self-ligating braces and provides scientific evidence as to why the latter is gaining more popularity among orthodontic patients. This article should help you improve patient satisfaction in your orthodontic practice, especially when treating misalignment with dental braces.
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