Many kinds of self-ligating brackets (SLBs) have been introduced to the market. Manufacturers
claim that SLBs have many benefits, such as being fast, convenient, and frictionless. The aim of this
report was to compare the teeth leveling effects of a conventional bracket (CB) and various SLBs
combined with a copper-nickel-titanium wire. Each malocclusion case was bonded with 1 of the
following 4 types of bracket: an Ormco Damon III bracket, a Tomy Clippy bracket, a 3K composite
bracket, and a Unitek Clarity ceramic bracket. A 0.36mm (0.014-in) copper-nickel-titanium wire was
initially used in all cases. The observation period was 4 months, and photographs were taken at each visit
for treatment. At the end point of the observation time, the teeth of all patients which were initially
crowded, malaligned, or malpositioned teeth were well aligned, and similar treatment outcomes were
seen. We concluded that appliances with either the conventional or self-ligating brackets coupled with
copper-nickel-titanium wire can achieve good alignment and leveling of crowded, malaligned, and
malpositioned teeth in a relatively short interval of 12 weeks.
