Passive Self-Ligating Brackets

Research indicates that optimum orthodontic forces should be just high enough to stimulate tooth movement without cutting off the vascular supply to the periodontal ligament. ¹ The passive self-ligating brackets of the Damon System are designed to allow the clinician to use these optimum low forces throughout all phases of treatment. This is only possible with a completely passive system. The Damon System facilitates healthy tooth movement with complete control.

Less Friction Means Low Forces

From the aesthetics of Damon 3 to the strength of Damon 3MX, Damon brackets produce significantly less friction than conventional or active self-ligating appliances. By greatly reducing the amount of friction in the Damon bracket system, low-force archwires can work to peak expression, thereby stimulating a more biologically compatible tooth movement. Low forces throughout treatment also mean greater patient comfort.

Friction-Free Relative to Conventional and Active Self-Ligating Appliances

Friction resistance levels (g; 1N=102g) of passive and active self-ligating brackets and conventional twin brackets with .020 and .019 x .025 stainless steel archwires at 0˚ angulation (reprinted by permission).

No Elastic Ligatures

The Damon System’s passive self-ligating brackets eliminate the use of elastomeric ligatures. That’s because conventional ties such as O-rings and stainless steel ligatures make using optimal forces impossible due to friction and binding. Elastomeric O-rings will lose half their elasticity within days of initial tie-in, thus compromising tooth control.

O-rings are extremely plaque retentive and greatly increase the number of microorganisms attached to appliances during treatment, increasing the incidence of decalcification during treatment.² Even fluoride-releasing elastomerics lose almost 90% of their fluoride protection in two weeks.³

Optimal Sliding Mechanics

Sliding mechanics is usually considered only in terms of space closure, but sliding mechanics comes into play in many other aspects of tooth movement such as engaging high cuspids, correcting rotations and leveling and aligning.

When moving a high cuspid into position using traditional twin appliances, there is a tendency for the lateral incisor and first bicuspid to move superiorly while the cuspid moves into position.

With a passive self-ligating system like the Damon System, moving a cuspid into place does not adversely affect the adjacent teeth (see example below).

Initial .014 Ni-Ti Archwire

18 Weeks Later - 2nd Appointment

¹Profitt, W.R. and Field, H.W.: The Biological Basis of Orthodontic Therapy, Contemporary Orthodontics, pp. 266-288, 1993
²Forsberg, C.M. and Brattstrom, V.: Ligature Wires and Elastomeric Rings: Two Methods of Ligation and their Association with Microbial Colonization, European Journal of Orthodontics, pp. 416-420, Oct. 1991
³Wiltshire, William: Determination of Fluoride from Fluoride-Releasing Elastomeric Ligature Ties, American Journal of Orthodontics, Vol. 120, No. 4, 1996