Comparative study of self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets：direction and progress / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The self-ligating bracket is superior to the conventional bracket in orthodontic treatment, but there are a lot of controversies. At present, researchers have different views on the function of self-ligating brackets. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the comparative study of self-ligating brackets and conventional brackest with the direction and development in recent years. METHODS:A computer-based search of PubMed (2000-2014) and CNKI (2000-2014) databases was done for relevant articles, using the key words of “self-ligating brackets; conventional orthodontic brackets” in English and Chinese, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Self-locking brackets saves chair side time, which has been confirmed and accepted. There are different views for the issue that self-ligating brackets can reduce friction in orthodontic treatment. It is widely accepted that, the self-ligating brackets using thin round wire had less friction than the conventional brackets; whether the friction of self-ligating brackets in the closed gap and fineness adjustment stages is less than the conventional brackets stil remains unclear, which need further clinical comparative studies. The self-ligating brackets showed no significant difference with the conventional brackets in arch expansion, reducing anchorage loss and root adsorption. The majority of relevant studies is performedin vitro, and cannot exactly simulate the dental conditions. A large-size experiment with the uniform criteria for therapeutic efficacy is needed to objectively evaluate self-ligating brackets.