Influence of the SmartClip self-ligating bracket on plaque control in orthodontic patients

To explore the influence of the SmartClip self-ligating bracket and traditional metal bi-wing brackets on plaque control and to provide a reference for the oral healthcare of orthodontic patients.

The patients were divided into the SmartClip self-ligating bracket group, the metal bi-wing bracket group, and the control group, consisting of untreated volunteers, and the patients were examined before treatment, 1 month after the treatment started, 3 months after the treatment started, and when the treatment ended. The oral hygiene status was recorded at four time points, and the plaque index of the following six teeth was compared among the time points: the upper-right central incisor (UR1), the lower-left central incisor (LL1), the upper-right first molar (UR6), the lower-left first molar (LL6), and the upper left canine (UL3) and the lower-right canine (LR3).

Compared with before treatment, after first month, third month and end of treatment the plaque index of LL1, LR3, LL6 and UR6 in both the SmartClip self-ligating bracket group and the traditional metal bi-wing bracket group was increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in PLI index between the end of treatment and 3 months after orthodontic treatment (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in PLI index in the control group at each time period (P > 0.05). After three months of orthodontic treatment, the plaque index of LL1 and LR3 in the SmartClip self-ligating bracket group was higher than that in the traditional metal bi-wing bracket group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Lower anterior and posterior areas are susceptible to plaque accumulation in treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances. The SmartClip self-ligating bracket system has no advantage over the traditional metal bi-wing bracket in terms of oral hygiene.