Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the effect of different ligature types and ligation techniques on the rate of space closure, tipping and rotation of canine after sliding. Materials and Methods: The total number of the samples were 50 sample classified under five groups according to the method and type of ligation; the first group: preformed stainless steel ligature wire (SL), the second group: preformed stainless steel kobayashi ligature wire (KL), the third group: elastomeric ligature in figure – O (EO), the fourth group: elastomeric ligature in figure – 8 (E8) and the fifth group: non-conventional Slide Leone elastomeric ligature (NE). A typodont used in this study with preadjusted Roth stainless steel brackets 0.022×0.030 inch and a stainless steel orthodontic arch wire 0.017×0.025 inch. A bite plane extension bar (BPB) and canine extension bar (CB) are constructed for the measurement of canine tipping and rotation. A 180 gm. of force applied by short continuous elastomeric power chain to retract the right canine. After immersion of the typodont in water bathe with 50-55 0C for 5 minutes, the rate of space closure were measured in millimeter using vernier (from the distal wings of canine bracket and the mesial wings of the second premolar), the tipping and rotation were measured by taking a photograph to the typodont using digital camera, with transvers projection (for tipping) and occlusal projection (for rotation) from right side (directly toward the right canine), then the angle between (BPB) and (CB) measured directly on the photograph using Protractor. Results: A statistical analysis (descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Duncan Multiple Analysis Range Test) used in this study, for the rate of space closure the results showed that there is a significant difference between the five groups at p ≤ 0.001, the NE group had the highest amount of tooth movement while KL group had the lowest level, for the tipping; the NE group had the highest level of tipping while SL, KL and E8 groups had the lowest level with a non-significant difference between them, for the rotation; the results showed that NE group had the highest level of rotation, while KL group had the lowest level. Conclusions: The higher rate of space closure, the higher rotational degree and the higher tipping degree were associated with NE group, while KL group had shown the lowest rate of space closure and the lowest rotational degree. The lowest degree of tipping was associated with the SL, KL and E8 groups.