title: A multicenter randomized controlled trial to compare a self-ligating bracket with a conventional bracket in a UK population: Part 2: Pain perception.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare pain experience between self-ligating and conventional preadjusted edgewise appliance systems with a two-arm parallel trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in three hospital orthodontic departments. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive treatment with either a self-ligating (3M SmartClip™) or conventional (3M Victory™) bracket system with stratification for operator and center. Standardized protocol was followed for bracket bonding procedure and archwire sequence. Subject pain was recorded using a Verbal Rating Scale to assess discomfort felt on the teeth and soft tissues at the time of the appointment and 1, 3, and 5 days after each archwire change up to the working archwire. Multilevel modeling was used to analyze the data by blinded assessors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty-eight subjects (mean age 14 years 11 months) were enrolled in the study, of which 135 subjects (97.8%) completed the study and 113 (82%) returned the required data regarding pain/discomfort. Perceived pain was statistically higher with the SmartClip™ system compared to the Victory™ system, but this difference was not deemed to be clinically significant. Discomfort was greatest after placement of the initial 0.014-inch nickel-titanium archwire, compared with subsequent wires, and was greatest on day 1, less on day 3, and much less on day 5 after each archwire change. Age and gender did not affect the level of discomfort experienced by subjects undergoing fixed appliance treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No clinically significant difference in pain experience was found between patients treated with a self-ligating bracket system compared to those treated with a conventional ligation system.
authors: a  Specialist Orthodontist, Private Practice, Howard Marshall Dentistry, London, UK.
authors: Shahla
authors: S
authors: Rahman
authors: b  Consultant Orthodontist, Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, UK.
authors: R James
authors: RJ
authors: Spencer
authors: c  Consultant Orthodontist, St Luke's Hospital, Bradford, UK.
authors: Simon J
authors: SJ
authors: Littlewood
authors: d  Specialist Orthodontist, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Lian
authors: L
authors: O'Dywer
authors: e  Post-CCST Trainee in Orthodontics, Leeds Dental Institute, Leeds, UK.
authors: Sophy K
authors: SK
authors: Barber
authors: f  Consultant Orthodontist, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors: Joanne S
authors: JS
authors: Russell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D058748:Pain Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Pain; Randomized control trial; Self-ligating; SmartClip