Clinical Performance of a New Esthetic, Self-ligating Orthodontic Bracket
Clinical Performance of a New Esthetic, Self-ligating Orthodontic Bracket
A cohort of 15 patients starting orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances will receive
 EXD-952 Ceramic Self-ligating brackets on all mandibular incisors and a different type of
 brackets on the remaining mandibular teeth. Tooth movement will be initiated using 0.014" or
 0.016" Nickel-Titanium archwires.

 A second cohort of 15 patients will receive EXD-952 Ceramic Self-ligating bracket on all
 mandibular incisors in a later phase of their ongoing orthodontic treatment. The mandibular
 incisor brackets will be removed and EXD-952 Ceramic Self-ligating brackets placed instead.
 Other mandibular brackets will remain in place. Tooth movement will be performed using
 0.019x0.025" Stainless Steel archwires.

 In both cohorts bracket door stability, the ability of the door to hold the archwire in the
 bracket slot, the bracket's ability to rotate teeth, clinicians' satisfaction with the
 bracket, and patient comfort in comparison with other brackets will be assessed.

 The evaluation for each patient will last for at least until one archwire change (cohort 1)
 or one appointment interval (6-8 weeks, cohort 2).

 After the evaluation period, EXD-952 Ceramic Self-ligating brackets will remain in place
 until the orthodontic treatment is completed.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Permanent mandibular dentition including incisors, canines, premolars, and first
 molars (includes subjects treated with the extraction of premolars)

 -  Mandibular incisors with sound, non-carious buccal enamel and no pretreatment with
 chemical agents such as hydrogen peroxide

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Mental/emotional/developmental disability

 -  Inability to give informed consent

 -  Cleft lip and/or palate, craniofacial anomaly, or syndrome

 -  Obvious oral hygiene issues such as excessive plaque accumulation, gingivitis, and/or
 pre-existing white spot lesions

 -  Prosthodontic or restored substrate extending on the labial surface of mandibular
 incisors

 -  Deep bite

 -  Known allergies to any study materials