Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the frictional resistance generated among various passive self-ligating ceramic brackets. Four groups of passive self-ligating brackets, including Damon Q2 (stainless steel), Damon Clear2 (polycrystalline alumina), Truklear (polycrystalline alumina), and Clarity Ultra (microcrystalline alumina), were tested for frictional resistance with 0.019 x 0.025-in stainless steel (SS) archwires. Five brackets from each group were attached to the teeth on the right quadrant of the maxillary stereolithographic model. Static and kinetic friction were measured on a universal testing machine. Five replicas were performed with new wires and brackets of the same group. Analysis of variance and Bonferroni Post hoc test were performed to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between groups (p-value < 0.05). Clarity Ultra had the significantly highest frictional force in static and kinetic friction. No significant differences were found among Damon Q2, Damon Clear2, and Truklear in the static friction test. Kinetic friction increased from Damon Clear2, Damon Q2, Truklear to Clarity Ultra. However, no significant differences were shown between Damon Clear2 versus Damon Q2 and Damon Q2 versus Truklear. Clarity Ultra generated the highest frictional resistance in static and kinetic friction among the experimental groups. Other groups of self-ligating ceramic brackets (Damon Clear2, Truklear) generated a comparable frictional force to self-ligating stainless steel brackets (Damon Q2).