Clinical outcomes of 0.018-inch and 0.022-inch bracket slot using the ABO objective grading system.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if there is a significant difference in the clinical outcomes of cases treated with 0.018-inch brackets vs 0.022-inch brackets according to the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Objective Grading System (OGS).


METHODS
Treatment time and the ABO-OGS standards in alignment/rotations, marginal ridges, buccolingual inclination, overjet, occlusal relationships, occlusal contacts, interproximal contacts, and root angulations were used to compare clinical outcomes between a series of 828 consecutively completed orthodontic cases (2005-2008) treated in a university graduate orthodontic clinic with 0.018-inch- and 0.022-inch-slot brackets.


RESULTS
A two-sample t-test showed a significantly shorter treatment time and lower ABO-OGS score in four categories (alignment/rotations, marginal ridges, overjet, and root angulations), as well as lower total ABO-OGS total score, with the 0.018-inch brackets. The ANCOVA-adjusting for covariants of discrepancy index, age, gender, and treatment time-showed that the 0.018-inch brackets scored significantly lower than the 0.022-inch brackets in both the alignment/rotations category and total ABO-OGS score.


CONCLUSIONS
There were statistically, but not clinically, significant differences in treatment times and in total ABO-OGS scores in favor of 0.018-inch brackets as compared with the 0.022-inch brackets in a university graduate orthodontic clinic (2005-2008).
Detterline
David A
DA
Department of Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.
Isikbay
Serkis C
SC
Brizendine
Edward J
EJ
Kula
Katherine S
KS
D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D003765:Models, Dental; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design / Q000592:standards; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000592:standards; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000592:standards; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D013044:Specialty Boards / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States