Treatment efficiency of conventional vs. self-ligating braces: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic search for eligible publications within the past 17 years and to conduct a meta-analysis on differences between conventional and self-ligating brackets regarding overall treatment time and number of appointments. Material & Methods: This review’s pre-de ned protocol was based on the Cochrane guidelines, and it is reported according to the PRISMA statement and its extension for abstracts. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs, published in English between 1998 and 2015; we included human patients of any age or gender that received xed-appliance orthodontic treatment as well as comparable patients for age, gender, and malocclusion receiving therapy with conventional as well as self-ligating brackets. Results: After we performed the research, we analyzed the useful full-text publications. The total duration of the treatment was higher in the self-ligating brackets group than those of the conventional brackets in all the studies reviewed. The number of appointments were greater in the self-ligating group than in the conventional brackets group, while in other studies, the conventional brackets group shows a greater number of appointments. Conclusion: Results from our meta-analysis revealed weak and statistically not signi cant overall effects that failed to substantiate major advantages of self-ligating brackets over conventional brackets. Treatment time does not depend exclusively on the type of bracket. The number of appointments is of interest when considering treatment duration.