What is a self-ligating bracket?
Damon orthodontics or Self-Ligating uses the same metal materials as the usual brackets. The difference is that in Daemon orthodontics, the use of small clamps is not required, and this means fewer visits and reduced friction between the teeth and the bracket. Daemon brackets are made of metal, ceramic orthodontic brackets, or transparent brackets. These brackets are similar in size to metal brackets, but with more advantages, they can have a more beautiful appearance, especially for younger people.
- These types of braces have special clamps (small metal doors) that hold the archwire (the main orthodontic wire) in place.
In this type of orthodontics, the teeth are usually moved gradually and by a sliding mechanism to be in the right place.
Damon orthodontics does not require the use of rubber bands used in traditional orthodontics.
The manufacturers of these brackets believe that Damon braces increase the speed of healing and also reduce the amount of pain that the patient experiences when using them.
They also claim that this type of orthodontics does not require procedures such as tooth extraction.
In general, Damon braces eliminate any defects that have been present in traditional braces. These braces are made exactly like regular braces, but use a self-ligating mechanism to align the teeth.
Ideally, the brackets are easier to clean, less painful, and require fewer doctor visits.
Damon orthodontics can be used to treat the following problems:
Crooked teeth
Broken teeth
- Mild to severe cases of malocclusion
The manufacturers of Damon Braces believe that these braces also have the following benefits:
A fuller smile
Maintain better balance in the face
Smooth cheek lines
Reduce dark triangles in the corners of the mouth
The patient looks younger in appearance
The course of treatment with Damon brackets is shorter than regular brackets
- Damon brackets have been very popular since their invention, which can be for the following reasons:
Faster treatment: It is said that treatment with Damon braces is faster than traditional braces. In one study, Damon braces were found to be both faster and less likely to require a visit to the dentist.
Impact on appearance and beauty: Damon’s braces are both metallic and colorless. Colorless braces are almost invisible. So they are a great option for adults and teens who do not want their brackets to attract attention.
Fewer visits to the dentist: As mentioned, a person who uses these braces needs fewer visits to the dentist during treatment.
Less pressure: Because these braces are self-ligating, the patient feels less pain when using them, or at least feels less pain compared to traditional braces because during treatment with this The pain spreads in the mouth.
Easy to clean: These braces are made of fewer components than regular braces, so they have fewer places for plaque to grow, making them easier to brush and floss.
Less friction: These braces create less friction and as a result, the amount of damage to the teeth and tooth enamel with them is less.
How do Damon braces work?
- Damon orthodontics, like regular orthodontics, begins with a visit to the dentist. Your dentist or orthodontist will mold your teeth and plan your treatment accordingly.
As mentioned earlier, Damon’s braces are self-ligating.
This means that these braces use a sliding mechanism to align the teeth, which connects the wires to the brackets in such a way that the gradual movement of the brackets leads to the alignment of the teeth.
The advantage of this mechanism is that you no longer have to go to the dentist regularly to tighten the braces.
If you have ever had your teeth orthodontist, you know that tightening braces is a little painful.
Since in Damon orthodontics, the process of tightening the ligaments is done gradually, in this type of orthodontics, less force is used compared to ordinary orthodontics.
In addition, there is no elastic band in this type of orthodontics. These bandages may sometimes wrap around the mouth and cause pain
- The inventors of Damon orthodontics say that in this type of orthodontics, there is no need to extract teeth and use a palatal expander (palate enlarger) or any other additional operation.
Sometimes a dentist will have to use a plastic chain to attach your brackets. The pressure that this chain puts on your teeth is much higher than the pressure that self-ligating brackets put on you.
Some patients experience slight pain when using a plastic chain.
Damon orthodontics or in other words Damon orthodontics is the use of a special type of orthodontic bracket (orthodontic gem) in fixed orthodontics. This type of orthodontic bracket is designed in such a way that they need to use O-rings is eliminated and the orthodontic wire is held in the Damon bracket by the mechanism of a delicate opening and closing lock. This mechanism is called self-ligating. Damon brackets are designed in such a way that the friction between the wire and the bracket is reduced, thus making some of the dental movements easier than orthodontics with ordinary brackets.
Evolution of Damon orthodontics
Damon bracket was not the first type of bracket with a metal locking mechanism, and the idea of using this mechanism dates back to several decades ago. From the beginning, the most important challenge of self-ligating brackets was the high cost of production and fragility of the miniature locking mechanism, which prevented the widespread use and commercial supply of these systems. Until the advancement of technology and materials science, these shortcomings were eliminated and during the last two decades, three systems, In-Ovation and Damon, were successfully introduced to the market and evolved over time. In the meantime, Ormco has been able to develop a Damon orthodontic system by leveraging an extensive training system for orthodontists around the world and investing heavily to overtake commercial competitors. Currently, Damon Q and Damon Clear are the latest systems on offer.
What is being said and promoted as a new orthodontic method today is not really a new orthodontic method and it can be said that orthodontics is a new tool and technology that can have its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of these advantages and disadvantages have not yet been scientifically proven
The benefits of Damon orthodontics
Apply less and more balanced force on the teeth
The lower friction of the wire and bracket mentioned earlier, as well as the use of highly advanced orthodontic wires (in terms of wire alloy metallurgy), resulting in better force distribution on irregular teeth. This superiority has been confirmed by scientific studies and laboratory evidence. It can be expected that less and more balanced force, in addition to maintaining the health of the teeth and related tissues, will cause less pain and discomfort. However, pain during treatment is usually experienced in some older patients and is usually limited to the first few days of treatment.
Speed of orthodontic treatment
One of the concerns of orthodontic patients has always been the length of treatment, so sometimes some advertisements aim at this concern and promote rapid orthodontics or even one-day orthodontics! They have tried to attract the attention of patients (read Dr. Shirvani’s interview about deceptive advertisements here). In Damon orthodontics, it is claimed that a balanced and optimal force causes the teeth to move faster and reduces the overall duration of treatment. This claim has not yet been substantiated by careful scientific studies. Technically, in Damon orthodontics, the final stages of treatment are more difficult and slower than the usual methods, and if we accept that the initial speed of dental movement in Damon orthodontics is higher, the lower speed in the final stages of treatment makes the overall duration of treatment not significantly different.
Shorter treatment sessions and longer intervals
Due to the nature of the wires used in the Damon system, it is possible that in most sessions the interval between two visits, which is normally one month, is increased to two months and the patient returns for the next visit after two months. If for some reason, such as the distance between the place of study or the place of residence and the orthodontic office, monthly examination is not possible, this possibility is considered a good advantage, although in the final stages of treatment and adjusting the details of monthly examinations, even at shorter distances may be necessary. Be. Most orthodontists, including me, prefer to be monitored monthly and regularly for better control of the patient.
Due to the lack of need to use O-ring, it is said that treatment sessions will be shorter, which is a small difference and is not an advantage.
