title: A comparative in-vivo evaluation of the alignment efficiency of 5 ligation methods: A prospective randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a prospective randomized study comparing the efficiency of 5 different ligation systems (ELL; elastomeric ligature, SSL; stainless steel ligature, LL; leone slide ligature, PSL; passive self-ligation and ASL; active self-ligation) over the duration of mandibular crowding alleviation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty consecutive patients (54.2% male, 45.8% female; mean age: 16.69 years) satisfying the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to 5 ligation groups with an equal sample size of 10 per group. The 5 groups received treatment with 0.022-inch MBT pre-adjusted edge-wise technique (ELL: Gemini 3M Unitek, SSL: Gemini 3M Unitek, LL: Gemini 3M Unitek, PSL: SmartClip 3M Unitek and ASL: In-Ovation R Euro GAC International). The models and cephalograms were evaluated for anterior arch alignment, extraction space closure, and lower incisal inclinations at pre-treatment T1 and at the end of initial alignment T2. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Post-hoc tests were used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight participants completed the study, and SL systems showed a significant difference over CL groups in time to alignment, passive space closure, and incisal inclination. Multiple regression showed a reduction of 5.28 days in time to alignment by changing the ligation group in the order of ELL to ASL group and 1 mm increase in initial irregularity index increases time to alignment by 11.68 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-ligation brackets were more efficient than conventional ligation brackets during initial leveling and alignment.
authors: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Vijaya Bhaskara
authors: VB
authors: Reddy
authors: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Talapaneni Ashok
authors: TA
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Mandava
authors: M
authors: Prasad
authors: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Sivakumar
authors: S
authors: Nuvvula
authors: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Rajedra Goud
authors: RG
authors: Patil
authors: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Praveen Kumar
authors: PK
authors: Reddy
keywords: Conventional; crowding; friction; leone ligatures; ligation; self-ligation