Porcelain brackets during initial alignment: are self-ligating cosmetic brackets more efficient?

Abstract

To compare the effectiveness of a self-ligating (SL) porcelain bracket with a conventional porcelain (CP) bracket tied with ligatures for initial alignment in the upper arch, to compare the discomfort of both bracket – archwire combinations and to compare the times taken (both assisted and unassisted) to untie and ligate both bracket – archwire combinations.