Self-ligating braces use little metal doors to hold wires instead of elastic ties. This, in theory, would diminish friction, thus reducing treatment time. Self-ligating braces have also been shown to provide a more reliable ligation, more efficient tooth movement, and better control of tooth rotation compared to conventional braces. Studies have shown that self-ligating braces have resulted in a 4-month reduction in treatment time and four fewer sessions during treatment.

It is well documented that one of the main side effects of fixed orthodontic treatment is pain or discomfort, which can dissuade the patient from treatment, lower patient’s cooperation, and compromise the results of orthodontic treatment. Of course, different patient- and treatment-related factors, such as age, sex and previous experiences, can influence the experience of pain during orthodontic treatment. The quantity of the applied force and the amount of tooth movement are directly related to the frictional resistance between the wire and bracket. The degree of resistance is directly related to the physical characteristics of the wire, bracket material, wire size, and the type of wire ligation. It has been shown that during aligning and sliding phases (initial phase) of treatment, self-ligating braces produce lower force levels, which, in turn, might reduce the pain and discomfort experienced by patients during orthodontic treatment.

In summary, self-ligating braces are placed much like conventional braces, with the exception of ligature: No rubber or metal ties are present because they are not needed. Depending on the case complexity, self-ligating braces are also easier on your teeth and could reduce the amount of pressure and friction for many who wear them.

At Marysville Orthodontics, we use a customized version of the American Orthodontics Empower® 2 Brackets. Dr. Robert Lee researched heavily for the most advanced, refined and comfortable bracket for our patients. We use this self-ligating bracket system over many other self-ligating bracket systems for its Advanced Smile Technology and Dual Activation™ System. You can read more about the Empower® 2 Brackets here.