Resistance to sliding of self-ligating brackets versus conventional stainless steel twin brackets with second-order angulation in the dry and wet (saliva) states

The frictional properties of conventional stainless steel brackets that were coupled with rectangular stainless steel archwires and ligated with stainless steel ligature wires and the frictional properties of closed self-ligating brackets coupled with the same archwires were compared in terms of second-order angulation. The slides of these self-ligating brackets passively restrained the archwires within the slots. As a control, the frictional properties of the opened self-ligating brackets, which were ligated with stainless steel ligature wires, were measured. The resistance to sliding of the conventional brackets and the opened self-ligating brackets were measured at ligation forces ranging from 200 to 600 cN and at angles from −9° to 9°. The resistances to sliding of the closed self-ligating brackets were measured at the same angles, but no external ligation forces were applied. In the passive configuration, the conventional brackets exhibited similar frictional resistance as the opened self-ligating brackets, whereas the closed self-ligating brackets exhibited no friction. In the active configuration, all brackets exhibited increased resistance to sliding as the angulation increased. At all angles, the resistances to sliding of the closed self-ligating brackets were lower than those of the conventional brackets because of the absence of a ligation force when the slide restrained the archwire. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2001;120:361-70)