Traditional Braces vs SLB Opinions please!

[Paoyar]

I would like to hear YOUR expiriences with SLB (Self ligating) and traditional braces, pros and cons etc. Please make it plain and simple I dont really need to hear anything about marketing and such but more about how you like your system , would you change, etc. Thanks everyone

[mikeg]

I had traditional, but I would def go with Self Ligating braces now...

[Sunny]

I've had both ... no difference ... it's all about the orthodontist and the skill that person has.

Paoyar there's heaps on this subject throughout this forum ... please spend some time reading the many posts. The ortho who writes for this forum Dr Tam has also spent time discussing this subject on this forum and on his blog.

Enjoy researching!

[sol]

I will say that I have not had any experience with traditional but I do have self litigating damon braces and that the nice thing about them is that they allow for longer time between adjustments although the adjustments are still very painful. I would have gone with whatever my ortho suggested. I agree with sunny it is about experience not brackets.

[Sunny]

How long do you have between your adjustments Sol?

The ortho's I work with all use non sl brackets and our appointment times vary, depending on what they're trying to get the archwire/powerchains/elastics to achieve, but on average it would be 10 weeks. My own appointments have been as close together as three weeks (once only) and as long apart as 16 weeks (once only). My average is 12 weeks.

I find many of our patients prefer to see their ortho's more often, due to feeling that it's good to hear their comments about their progress.

[Candymomof3]

My appointments at the beginning, the first 2 were 8 weeks apart, ever since then they are exactly 6 weeks apart....and thank goodness hahaha, I am counting the days til the next one! I am definitly one of those people that get impatient for their visits!!!

[Paoyar]

Sunny I was reading some the other day and it gave me a headache, it was like people were arguing over their braces "my braces are better than yours" attitude and I don't have time for that I graduated from High School a long time ago ha ha ha
My question was simple, I wanted to know how people liked their OWN system.. I have to decide between two Orthos I like , one traditional one uses Damon, they are both excellent Doctors, they both have a great treatment plan I just can’t decide so I wanted to hear what people had to say about theirs. EVERYTHING has their pros and cons…
I like your comments and I really appreciate people that take the time to help others…oh decisions

[Sunny]

Life is about decision making and it can often be a headache ... but then that's all part of the process.

I was a high school teacher for 15 years ... quite some time ago now ... so I'm pleased you graduated high school ... but I'm not sure what that's got to do with the attitude. I now work with three orthodontist's and I think it's fantastic that people of all ages are happy with the people they (or their parents) have chosen to work with them and the brackets on their teeth. Many of the younger patients we get, have a less happy attitude, but are usual more than thrilled with the results, which makes it all worthwhile.

There is heaps on this forum to wade through ... but that's what forums like this are for.

Good luck making your decision!

[Paoyar]

Thanks

[Sunny]

You're welcome!

[annabella]

Paoyar,
Unfortunately I have noticed in these forums a couple of Damon Bashers or anythign new for that matter. And I like you have the high school attitude as well. Let's hope people can away from it.
I have met with 4 Orthod for my daughter, these are Houston TOP orthodondist. They all have their way of doing things but all 4 said there is no reason anyone assist/tech and much less an Orthodontist should say they would never use Damon or any brand. In fact they all said that Damon is very pick about who can be certified(no. cases & types). All use them, one prefered ovation, another smartclip......But they all said...... rarely do they use the traditional brackets(non SL) unless it is a client cost issue. And they use the Special archwires to control final movement and none had any problems with that. All have said less total time with SL braces.

[annabella]

One more thing here is a paper in American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics - Nov 2009 about SL - shows less friction and thus better movement = faster time.

Comparative evaluation of frictional forces in active and passive self-ligating brackets with various archwire alloys
Conclusions
When nickel-titanium and beta-titanium wires are used for guided tooth movement, passive appliances can minimize frictional resistance.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

One more thing here is a paper in American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics - Nov 2009 about SL - shows less friction and thus better movement = faster time.

Comparative evaluation of frictional forces in active and passive self-ligating
Conclusions
When nickel-titanium and beta-titanium wires are used for guided tooth movement, passive appliances can minimize frictional resistance.

Passive braces do not decrease overall treatment time. Initial alignment is not difficult with the use of NiTi wires with any system. In fact, anyone who has had braces can tell you that the major movement is within the first few appointments. However, after that, it is all about the details. It is difficult to achieve rotations, torque, and tip movements with passive SL brackets, since the resultant movements in treatment require an interaction between the wire and bracket. That is how teeth move.

A few years ago, there was much hoopla regarding a new clear, SL bracket. We were considering using this product since it would eliminate the problem of staining ligatures and time-consuming teflon ties. This would have been a great thing! Thankfully, we decided to wait until final results could be seen. In many offices, including those speaking for the company, the estimated treatment times have arrived and passed. Many of these brackets are being removed for traditional brackets to finalize alignment.

There is no knock against the Damon brace. It is a fine brace. It is about the claims being made. They are not superior to traditional braces, treatment does not end faster, it is not less painful, it will not, alone, remove the need for extraction, and appointment times are not less frequent... No one has been able to show this in a proper study with real clinical results. This is the consensus at American Association of Orthodontists meetings year after year. While individual orthodontists or a company, with an obvious conflict of interest, may be able to tell you various things, the profession as a whole has been unable to substantiate these claims.

There's really no debate, but if someone else has told you otherwise, and it makes you feel like getting them, there's nothing wrong with that either. Just remember that it is the treatment planning and expertise of the orthodontist/team that ultimately makes the biggest difference .

[annabella]

this is my final post as you obviously have the need to defend your claims. But you are totally wrong. Do you even read the periodicals in your journals. In the same Journal had a paper on rotation,torque movement. There is no overall difference in the traditional / passive brackets. And at the end it's the archwire used to move the roots into final position.
yes Here the Damon brackets don't have any efficeny they are the same not worse.
I can't believe you are saying this. The overall result with SL brackets is because the teeth move faster in the beginning. And I asked about removing the Damons at the final stages as you mentioned. They all said it is because the orthod did NOT follow the prescribed archwires for the final stages. A coupled laughed when I asked. They said those folks shouldn't be practicing.
People read the papers yourself and ask questions and don't take anyones word. Hidden agendas.

[Sunny]

Annabella you are being very rude to our Orthodontist, who posts on here for no personal gain.

I'm sorry that you appear to be one of the 'brain washed', but without the qualifications, experience and research to back your claims, please don't feel the need to try and belittle the one person on this site that has all of that.

I work for three orthodontists, who read this forum with me and they totally agree with Dr Tam ... and laughed at 'you are totally wrong' comment from a consumer. Your post has made us realise how lucky we are that we don't have people coming into our practice with such 'set in concrete' ideas and therefore are more open to orthodontics being about the skill of the orthodontist and not the bracket.

[annabella]

First of all no disrespect to Dr. Tam, just honesty. Sunny you have no knowledge of my credentials.
Now .... I graduated from a Top Premed school, worked at MD Anderson as a research asst while deciding whether to go to Med school. I had started the masters/PhD in molecular genetics. My dad, an ENT himself said actually wanted me to go to dental school, said I'd make good money too, disgusted I went and got a Masters in Architecture. So don't talk to me about whether I am capable. I grew up in a long line of family physicians and the holier than thou ended along time ago. Besides my father is the one who taught me to question them.

That is why I am interviewing many orthodontist because I want to find out their recommendations do research and come back and ask them questions and sometimes challenge them. I am the person responsible for my well being. The doctor or dentist is the provider and I have to be convinced and have comfort that they know their specialty through my scrutiny.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

No offence taken Annabella. It's good to see that you're so thorough and passionate with your research. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and choice... that's what makes this world interesting!

I want to be clear that I've nothing to gain from this thread except to try to educate individuals coming to this forum. I don't get paid by this site. I read several journals from our profession regularly, and attend far more CE courses all over the world annually than required. I work for no orthodontic companies, and look to provide the best quality results, in the most efficient manner, while providing a memorable experience for our patients. We have some of the newest technologies in our office, run a very successful practice in a major metro area, and have no problem providing the "bells and whistles" for our patients. If SL brackets, which are not a big difference in cost, were truly better for my patients, I would be on it in a heartbeat.

Good luck in your treatment journey and make sure to keep us posted!

[annabella]

Dr. Tam,
Thanks and I will but still have more to look into. So onto something else. well I guess kneed to change threads. Are there any thing we should consider with invisalign and a teenager. Two of the orthodontist didn't say why it would be a better or worse just left it up to us. I read in some of threads the trays are hard to remove and quite painfull. A y users out there that had both trad & invisalign. One one orthodontist said she'll need an upper expander for 3 months and then braces(invisalign) Trad he would put in a month. Other 2 think no need for expander just braces cuz they don't want to mess with her bite and jaw movement since only anterior minor crowding and crossbite. The other said expander only and see.