title: Stability of treatment with self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets in adolescents: a long-term follow-up retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the long-term stability of treatment with self-ligating brackets compared with conventional brackets.
  
  
  METHODS
  The long-term follow-up retrospective study sample consisted of two groups of patients: group SL (including passive and interactive self ligating braces) comprised 30 subjects treated with self-ligating brackets at a mean pretreatment (T0) age of 13.56 years, with a mean follow up period for 7.24 years; group CL comprised 30 subjects treated with conventional brackets at a mean pretreatment age of 13.48 years, with a mean follow up period for 7.68 years. Relapse were evaluated by dental casts examination using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index and the Little irregularity index. The two groups were evaluated for differences in the changing of PAR and Little irregularity index using paired-t tests. Inter-observer and intra-observer reliability was assessed by means of the Pearson's correlation coefficients method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences changed in PAR and the Little irregularity index between groups for the long-term follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study revealed that brackets type did not affect the long-term stability. Considering self-ligating brackets were expensive, given comprehensive consideration for the patients to choose suitable orthodontic bracket type was of critical importance.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiaqiang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weiting
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: MinLing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.affiliation: DDS, Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. 156089794@qq.com.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy*; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors