Clinical efficiency of new generation elastomeric ligatures over conventional: An in-vivo study

Friction being an imperative element in clinical orthodontics affects all stages of treatment and high frictional forces can affect the treatment duration and outcome in a deleterious manner. This study was done to appraise frictional resistance of non-conventional elastomeric modules in comparison with conventional elastomeric modules, during the retraction of teeth. The study sample size includes 30 patients (11 males and 19 females) undergoing orthodontic treatment. They were grouped into 3, namely, Group A- Slide nonconventional elastomeric ligatures Group B- super slick nonconventional elastomeric ligatures, and Group C- the conventional ligature. The study models were obtained to assess canine retraction rate, anchor loss, canine rotation, and molar rotations at different time intervals and subjected to statistical analysis. : The canine retraction rate(maxilla) for Group A, B and C was 1.674+/-0.092, 1.187+/-0.156, and 1.147+/-0.113,(mandible)1.765+0.099, 1.300+0.099 and 1.270+0.111 respectively. Mean anchorage loss(maxilla) group A- 1.054mm, group B- 1.080mm, group C -1.715mm (mandible) 1.024mm, 0.952mm and 1.664mm respectively. Canine rotation(maxilla) of Group A, B and C is 8.550+/-1.506, 5.300+/-1.386, 6.100+/-1.315and(mandible) 8.930/-+1.474, 5.830+/-1.096, 6.880+/-1.813 respectively. Mean molar rotation (maxilla) 2.580+0.735, 2.210+0.549 and 2.210+0.700 (mandible)2.900+0.541, 2.650+0.639 and 2.780+0.604 in group A, B and C respectively. Mean anchor loss was lesser in non-conventional modules, canine retraction rate was higher with Slide ligature, canine rotations were least in superslick more in Slide ligature, and rotation of molar was apparent for all the groups.