OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of laceback ligatures on the anteroposterior and vertical position of lower incisors and the mesial position of the lower first molars. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS: Patients under treatment in the Department of Orthodontics, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Dorset, during a 6 month period from November 1999 to March 2000. SUBJECTS:Sixty-two adolescents (mean 13.7 years, range 11.2-16.8 years) with similar malocclusions, requiring extraction of all first premolars, were randomly assigned to experimental (laceback: 30; 12 male, 18 female) and control (non-laceback: 32; 14 male, 18 female) groups. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment using upper and lower fixed appliances following extraction of four premolars. One group had lacebacks placed, whilst the control group had no lacebacks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The participants were examined clinically and radiographically, and lateral cephalograms with radio-opaque tooth markers and lower study casts records were taken when lower fixed appliances were placed (T1) and following sufficient leveling with a 0.018 inch stainless steel round wire (T2). Linear measurements were recorded following digitization of the lateral cephalograms and using a vernier caliper on the study casts. A Student t-test was used to examine differences between the two groups following assessment for normality. RESULTS: In both groups the lower incisors retroclined during T1-T2; (Mean+/-SD: Experimental -0.53+/-1.9 mm, Control -0.44+/-1.29 mm). There was no statistical significance between the two groups (p = 0.84). The lower incisors extruded in both groups; 0.47+/-0.98 mm in the experimental group and 0.44+/-0.87 mm in the control group. There was no statistical difference between the groups (p = 0.9). The lower first molars showed 0.83 mm greater mesial movement in the experimental group, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Labial segment crowding decreased in both groups (experimental -3+/-1.6 mm, control -2.67+/-2.28 mm), the difference between the groups being non-significant (p = 0.51). Arch length decreased in both groups (experimental -2.08+/-2.82 mm , control -2.9+/-3.06 mm), but the difference between them was not significant (p = 0.28) CONCLUSIONS: In first premolar extraction cases, the lower labial segment does not procline during the leveling stage with the pre-adjusted edgewise appliance and the use of laceback ligatures conveys no difference in the anteroposterior or vertical position of the lower labial segment. Furthermore, the use of laceback ligatures creates a statistically and clinically significant increase in the loss of posterior anchorage.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of laceback ligatures on the anteroposterior and vertical position of lower incisors and the mesial position of the lower first molars. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS: Patients under treatment in the Department of Orthodontics, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Dorset, during a 6 month period from November 1999 to March 2000. SUBJECTS: Sixty-two adolescents (mean 13.7 years, range 11.2-16.8 years) with similar malocclusions, requiring extraction of all first premolars, were randomly assigned to experimental (laceback: 30; 12 male, 18 female) and control (non-laceback: 32; 14 male, 18 female) groups. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment using upper and lower fixed appliances following extraction of four premolars. One group had lacebacks placed, whilst the control group had no lacebacks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The participants were examined clinically and radiographically, and lateral cephalograms with radio-opaque tooth markers and lower study casts records were taken when lower fixed appliances were placed (T1) and following sufficient leveling with a 0.018 inch stainless steel round wire (T2). Linear measurements were recorded following digitization of the lateral cephalograms and using a vernier caliper on the study casts. A Student t-test was used to examine differences between the two groups following assessment for normality. RESULTS: In both groups the lower incisors retroclined during T1-T2; (Mean+/-SD: Experimental -0.53+/-1.9 mm, Control -0.44+/-1.29 mm). There was no statistical significance between the two groups (p = 0.84). The lower incisors extruded in both groups; 0.47+/-0.98 mm in the experimental group and 0.44+/-0.87 mm in the control group. There was no statistical difference between the groups (p = 0.9). The lower first molars showed 0.83 mm greater mesial movement in the experimental group, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Labial segment crowding decreased in both groups (experimental -3+/-1.6 mm, control -2.67+/-2.28 mm), the difference between the groups being non-significant (p = 0.51). Arch length decreased in both groups (experimental -2.08+/-2.82 mm , control -2.9+/-3.06 mm), but the difference between them was not significant (p = 0.28) CONCLUSIONS: In first premolar extraction cases, the lower labial segment does not procline during the leveling stage with the pre-adjusted edgewise appliance and the use of laceback ligatures conveys no difference in the anteroposterior or vertical position of the lower labial segment. Furthermore, the use of laceback ligatures creates a statistically and clinically significant increase in the loss of posterior anchorage.