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Dental CrowdingSLBs CBs RCTNCT07503314

Comparison of Alignment Efficiency, Arch Dimensional Changes, and Passive Extraction Space Closure Between Self-Ligating and Conventional Brackets

A study testing Self-Ligating Brackets (SLB) and Conventional Bracket in people with Dental Crowding and Passive Extraction Space, run by Saidu College of Dentistry at 1 site in Pakistan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Purpose: This study aims to compare two types of orthodontic braces - self-ligating brackets (SLBs) and conventional brackets (CBs) - to see which one aligns teeth faster, affects the width of the dental arch, and closes spaces after premolar extractions more efficiently. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 13 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Self-Ligating Brackets (SLB) and Conventional Bracket
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
70 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
1 Feb 2024to 25 Jun 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 13 to 30 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult

Inclusion Criteria Age 13-30 years, any gender Moderate (4-8 mm) or severe (>8 mm) dental crowding Skeletal Class I (ANB 0-20) or mild-to-moderate Class II (ANB 3-50) Normal or vertical growth pattern (FMA 22-280) Good oral hygiene (plaque index ≤1) Require extraction-based orthodontic treatment

Exclusion Criteria Previous orthodontic treatment Asymmetric extractions Systemic diseases or medications affecting bone metabolism Cleft lip/palate or other craniofacial anomalies Congenital absence of teeth (except third molars) Low-angle (hypodivergent) growth pattern Inability to comply with treatment/follow-up

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Pakistan1 site
  • Marium Jamil

    Lahore, Punjab Province, 2500

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Comparison of Alignment Efficiency, Arch Dimensional Changes, and Passive Extraction Space Closure Between Self-Ligating and Conventional Brackets: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Purpose:

This study aims to compare two types of orthodontic braces - self-ligating brackets (SLBs) and conventional brackets (CBs) - to see which one aligns teeth faster, affects the width of the dental arch, and closes spaces after premolar extractions more efficiently.

Read more

Who Can Join:

Ages 13-30 years Moderate to severe dental crowding Skeletal Class I or mild to moderate Class II malocclusions Good oral hygiene Requiring extraction of premolars

What Participants Will Do:

Participants are randomly assigned to either the SLB group or the CB group. Braces are bonded to the teeth following standard orthodontic procedures. Dental impressions and measurements will be taken at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months.

No extra devices (like power chains) will be used for space closure during the study.

What is Being Measured:

Alignment of teeth using Little's Irregularity Index Intercanine and intermolar widths (arch dimensions) Passive closure of extraction spaces

Why This Study is Being Done:

The study investigates whether SLBs provide any clinical advantage over conventional braces in terms of faster alignment, arch width changes, and efficient space closure in extraction cases. This could help orthodontists make evidence-based decisions when choosing braces.

Study Duration:

Total observation period: 9 months Monthly follow-ups for adjustments and measurements

Read the detailed description

This prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the clinical effects of self-ligating brackets (SLBs) versus conventional brackets (CBs) in patients requiring premolar extractions. The study included 70 participants aged 13-30 years with moderate to severe crowding and skeletal Class I or mild-to-moderate Class II malocclusions.

Participants were randomly assigned to either the SLB or CB group (35 participants each) using computer-generated random numbers and allocation concealment through sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes. Blinding of the operator and participants was not possible due to the nature of the interventions; however, outcome assessors were blinded by covering brackets on dental casts with beading wax.

The study assessed alignment efficiency, arch dimensional changes, and passive extraction space closure over a 9-month period. Dental impressions and study casts were collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months. Alignment was quantified using Little's Irregularity Index, while intercanine and intermolar widths and passive extraction space closure were measured using digital calipers. No active space-closing auxiliaries, such as power chains or springs, were used during the observation period.

All treatments were performed by trained orthodontic residents with calibration to ensure consistency in bonding procedures, archwire sequence, and ligation methods. Linear mixed-effects models with repeated measures and covariates (age, gender, and malocclusion type) were used for statistical analysis, and regression coefficients with 95% confidence intervals were reported.

The trial aims to determine whether SLBs differ from conventional brackets in terms of alignment speed, arch dimensional changes, and passive space closure in extraction cases. Findings from this study can inform evidence-based bracket selection and clinical decision-making in orthodontic practice.

Being tested
Self-Ligating Brackets (SLB), Conventional Bracket
Keywords
Self-ligating brackets, Conventional brackets, Orthodontic alignment, Dental crowding
Medical subject headings
Crowding

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Self-Ligating Brackets (SLB)Device

    Participants received 0.022-inch slot MBT conventional brackets (Equilibrium 2, Dentaurum, Germany) bonded to all teeth up to the second premolars. Alignment began with 0.014-inch NiTi archwires and progressed through the same standardized sequence as the SLB group. Stainless steel lacebacks were applied for early canine control. No active space-closing auxiliaries (power chains or closed-coil springs) were used during the 9-month observation period. Outcome measurements were taken at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months on blinded study casts.

  • Conventional BracketDevice

    Participants in this arm received 0.022-inch slot MBT conventional brackets (Equilibrium 2, Dentaurum, Germany) bonded to all teeth up to the second premolars. Alignment began with 0.014-inch NiTi archwires and progressed using a standardized archwire sequence (0.016, 0.018 NiTi, 0.016×0.022 NiTi, 0.019×0.025 stainless steel). Stainless steel lacebacks were applied for early canine control, and no active space-closing auxiliaries (e.g., power chains or NiTi closed-coil springs) were used during the 9-month observation period. Outcome measurements were taken at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months on blinded study casts.

Study groups in NCT07503314
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Conventional Bracket Group (CB)Active comparatorParticipants in this group received 0.022-inch slot conventional MBT brackets (Dentaurum, Germany) bonded to all teeth up to the second premolars. Alignment started with 0.014-inch NiTi archwires and progressed according to a standardized archwire sequence. Stainless steel lacebacks were used for early canine control, and no active space-closing auxiliaries (e.g., power chains or closed-coil springs) were applied during the 9-month observation period. Outcome measurements were taken at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months on blinded study casts.
Receives: Device: Self-Ligating Brackets (SLB)
Self-Ligating Bracket Group (SLB)ExperimentalParticipants in this group received 0.022-inch slot self-ligating MBT brackets (American Orthodontics, USA) bonded to all teeth up to the second premolars. Alignment started with 0.014-inch NiTi archwires and progressed using the same standardized archwire sequence. Stainless steel lacebacks were applied for early canine control, and no active space-closing auxiliaries were used during the 9-month observation period. Outcome measurements were taken at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months on blinded study casts.
Receives: Device: Conventional Bracket

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Dental alignment assessed by Little's Irregularity Index

    The primary outcome is the degree of dental alignment in extraction cases, measured on study casts using Little's Irregularity Index. Measurements were performed by a single calibrated examiner blinded to bracket type using a digital caliper (0.01 mm accuracy). Higher scores indicate greater crowding, while lower scores indicate improved alignment.

    Measured: Baseline (T₀) to 9 months (T₃), assessed at 3-month intervals

  2. Intermolar width

    The primary outcome is the degree of dental alignment in extraction cases, measured on study casts using Little's Irregularity Index. Measurements were performed by a single calibrated examiner blinded to bracket type using a digital caliper (0.01 mm accuracy). Higher scores indicate greater crowding, while lower scores indicate improved alignment.

    Measured: Baseline (T₀) to 9 months (T₃), assessed at 3-month intervals

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Intercanine width

    Distance between the cusp tips of the canines on study casts. Measured by a blinded examiner using a digital caliper (0.01 mm accuracy) to monitor transverse changes in the anterior arch.

    Measured: Baseline (T₀) to 9 months (T₃), assessed at 3-month intervals

  2. Passive extraction space closure

    Measured at extraction sites as the distance between nearest reproducible points on crowns adjacent to extraction sites. No active space-closing auxiliaries were used to isolate the effect of bracket type. Measured by a blinded examiner using digital calipers.

    Measured: Baseline (T₀) to 9 months (T₃), assessed at 3-month intervals

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted31 Mar 2026
  2. Study start1 Feb 2024
  3. Primary completion25 Jun 2025
  4. Study completion25 Jun 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This is a parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial comparing two types of fixed orthodontic appliances. Participants were randomly assigned to either the self-ligating bracket (SLB) group or the conventional bracket (CB) group in a 1:1 ratio. Each group received standard orthodontic treatment with premolar extractions, following the same archwire sequence and bonding protocols. Outcome measurements were taken at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
70 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07503314
Sponsor's protocol ID
UHS-ORTHO-2026-01
Other IDs
UHS-ORTHO-2026-01
Acronym
SLBs CBs RCT
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
25 Mar 2026
Last updated
31 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Individual participant data (IPD) will include de-identified demographic, clinical, and outcome measurements (Little's Irregularity Index, intercanine and intermolar widths, arch depth, passive extraction space) collected during the trial. No personal identifiers will be included. Supporting documents such as study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and analytic code will also be shared.

Publications

  • 14. Scott P, DiBiase AT, Sherriff M, Cobourne MT. Alignment efficiency of Damon3 self-ligating and conventional orthodontic bracket systems: a randomized clinical trial. American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. 2008;134(4):470. e1-. e8. 2. Fleming PS, DiBiase AT, Sarri G, Lee RT. Comparison of mandibular arch changes during alignment and leveling with 2 preadjusted edgewise appliances. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2009;136(3):340-7. 3. Pandis N, Polychronopoulou A, Katsaros C, Eliades T. Comparative assessment of conventional and self-ligating appliances on the effect of mandibular intermolar distance in adolescent nonextraction patients: a single-center randomized controlled trial. American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. 2011;140(3):e99-e105.

  • Jamil M, Bokhari F, Hammad A, Saeed H, Mumtaz M, Kamran MA, Alqerban A, Hussain U, Bukhary F, Rehman A. Comparison of Alignment Efficiency, Arch Dimensional Changes, and Passive Extraction Space Closure Between Self-Ligating and Conventional Brackets in Extraction Crowding Patients: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Dent. 2026 Aug 13;2026:4061065. doi: 10.1155/ijod/4061065. eCollection 2026.

    PubMed 42602182

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Self-Ligating Brackets (SLB) and Conventional Bracket in people with Dental Crowding and Passive Extraction Space, run by Saidu College of Dentistry at 1 site in Pakistan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Dental alignment assessed by Little's Irregularity Index (time frame: Baseline (T₀) to 9 months (T₃), assessed at 3-month intervals). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07503314, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Mar 2026.

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