Canine retraction: a randomised clinical trial comparing damon™ 3 self-ligating with conventional ligating brackets

Abstract

The clinical efficacy was investigated between Damon™ 3 self-ligating (SLB) and Mini Diamond conventional-ligating brackets (CLB) of the straight-wire fixed orthodontic therapy on the tooth movement during canine retraction stage. Twenty patients, age between 14 and 30 years old were randomized into 2 groups: ten patients received Damon™ 3 SLB and another ten patients received Mini Diamond CLB. A transpalatal arch soldered to both maxillary first molar bands was constructed for each patient and cemented before the extraction of the maxillary first premolars. The canine retraction was commenced on a 0.018” stainless steel archwire by attaching a Nickel-Titanium close coil spring from the canine bracket to the molar band for three consecutive visits of 4 weeks interval (T0, T1, T2 and T3). Tooth movements were determined by subtracting the present measurement from the previous ones using a digital caliper on a study model. Statistical analysis showed that there was no difference (p>0.05) in canine retraction between Damon™ 3 and Mini Diamond brackets. The Damon™ 3 and Mini Diamond brackets have same efficacy in tooth movement.