Like everything else in the world, orthodontics has also undergone major adaptations to new techniques and technologies over the last few decades, in order to increasingly optimize orthodontic treatments, both for the patient and for the professional, and part of that is the self-ligating braces.

The self-ligating braces has become a topic of great interest in orthodontics, especially as it brings with it the possibility of more effective, faster treatments, at a lower cost and with greater gains.

In today’s content, we bring you a lot of information so that you can learn a little more about the self-ligating braces, knowing the models’ price and their benefits! 

What is a self-ligating braces?

In the 1930s, interest arose in making orthodontic treatment more effective and, as a result, self-ligating brackets began to be idealized and developed.

Over time, the initial idea underwent several changes to become today’s self-ligating bracket, which is a piece that can connect to the leveling archwire, without the need for rubber bands.

This is possible, as this type of bracket is built with a clip that can close, and attach the archwire to itself. And this innovation came in the direction of reducing the braces friction, as the strength required to connect the bracket and the archwire is reduced. 

This friction reduction was confirmed by several scholars, who demonstrated great agreement that the self-ligating braces produces less friction during tooth movement than conventional brackets, observing that this self-ligation produces 30 to 50% of the friction that would be generated by rubber bands. 

Self-ligating brackets can be classified into three types and, naturally, the degree of friction is higher in active self-ligating brackets than in passive ones: 

• Active: when the system presses the archwire into the clip 
• Passive: when the system allows freedom of archwire in the clip
• Interactive: when self-ligating brackets exert pressure on thicker archwires, but allow freedom for less caliber wires. 

To learn more about this type of braces, click here. 

Self-ligating braces: price

As all dental treatment, the cost of orthodontic treatment with self-ligating braces can vary greatly, after all, it depends on the demands of each clinical case and its degree of difficulty, the region where the office works and the professional chosen. 

The metal self-ligating braces’ price tends to be very similar to conventional metal braces’; however, there are aesthetic self-ligating brackets, which naturally tend to cost more.

It is important to point out that this higher price is compensable due to the benefits it brings to the treatment, especially regarding time reduction. However, the exact value of the self-ligating braces can only be established after an expert evaluation.

EasyClip+ (Aditek) Self-ligating Braces

Aditek is a world reference in orthodontic products and has different models of self-ligating bracket systems that you can purchase! 

Aditek’s EasyClip+ bracket, for example, is considered the most complete self-ligating system in the world, with 13 years of existence on the market and more than 250,000 cases treated with it in different countries. 

This model is produced with a lot of technology and innovation, it is the ideal solution for orthodontists who want to stand out in the market! In addition, it stands out for being the first self-ligating model in Brazil to have an exclusive patent in the USA.

The main benefits presented by EasyClip+ are: 

• Lowest profile on the market
• Non-removable NiTi clip
• Anatomical basis
• Full M-D clip slot coverage
• No special instruments required
• Sintered bracket with MIM technology
• Clinical practice optimization
• More comfort and hygiene for the patient

In addition, the EasyClip+ interactive and passive self-ligating bracket models can be combined in several ways in the same system: fully interactive, fully passive, hybrid, two-dimensional or two-dimensional hybrid.

How should self-ligating braces treatment be performed?

The self-ligating braces usually has indications similar to those of the conventional braces, i.e, it is indicated for all cases of malocclusion, and it is quite efficient in cases of severe crowding and lack of space.

The mechanics used in the treatment with self-ligating brackets are also the same, however, in this type of treatment, the rubber bands are dispensed, thus reducing friction, facilitating tooth movement for smile alignment.

The professional’s skill and knowledge is essential for self-ligating braces treatment to be optimized, ranging from around 12 to 24 months in duration.

As with all orthodontic treatments, the efficacy of self-ligating brackets will also depend on patient compliance and the severity of each case. Even if there is no need to change rubber bands, there is a need to change the dental archwire and periodic monitoring for constant evaluation of tooth movements. 

How to choose the self-ligating braces by price?

Although price is an important factor when choosing materials used in different types of dental treatments, it is important to emphasize that cost must always be combined with other factors so that the decision-making process is the best possible, as well as the orthodontist must be protagonist of this choice and take into account some aspects. 

Check out two tips below so that you can be assertive when determining the use of the self-ligating braces:

Understand the clinical case of each patient

Looking carefully at the individualities presented by each clinical case is important for you to understand the needs that the treatment requires and thus be able to choose the self-ligating bracket model that best fits the case. 

There is no point in choosing the cheapest model without taking into account its mechanical properties, as sometimes a slightly more expensive model will bring much better results in less time depending on the case’s specifics. 

This assertiveness in choosing, taking into account a personalized look, is what tends to make the treatment actually be cheaper. 

Focus on quality materials and products

The quality of materials chosen during orthodontic treatment makes all the difference regarding the cases management. Often, when only the price is taken into account, some avoidable problems occur during treatment, such as the pieces loosening, the need for repeating procedures and, consequently, it makes the treatment more expensive and makes it not worth choosing for a cheaper and lower quality material.

Therefore, evaluating cost-benefit is much more important than thinking about the cost. Always remember that low-quality materials leading to the need for repeating procedures, in addition to occupying more clinical hours in the office, may also affect patient confidence and satisfaction.

Thinking broadly about the material cost is essential to make the best choice: a material that is a little more expensive, but that positively influences treatment, patient loyalty, reducing clinical hours and attracting more patients it will certainly bring profitability, while a cheaper material may not compensate for the few reais less given the negative impact on profitability that, in the long term, it may generate.

Check out more Aditek content prepared especially for dentists!

Ready to optimize your clinical cases using self-ligating braces? Then access Aditek’s catalog and check out all the brand-available models. 

Read more contents from Aditek’s blog, created by specialists in the field, and learn about the brand’s high-tech orthodontic products!