© 2020 Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics Dental Press J Orthod. 2020 Jan-Feb;25(1):47-55 47 original article Comparison of changes in the dental transverse and sagittal planes between patients treated with self-ligating and with conventional brackets Javier Moyano 1 , Diana Montagut 2 , Ramon Perera 3 , Javier Fernández-Bozal 1 , Andreu Puigdollers 1 Introduction: Several advantages have been established regarding the efficiency of self-ligating brackets (SL). In spite of some controversy surrounding this question in the literature, clinical results confirm that “arch development” requires fewer extractions. Objective: The ob- jective of this study was to compare changes in the transverse and sagittal planes in patients treated with conventional ligating brackets (CL) as well as in patients treated with SL brackets and oversized arches. Methods: A sample was selected from a pool of 300 consecutive cases treated by a single clinician: 51 patients with SL brackets and oversized wires, and 55 with CL brackets. These two groups were compared with a control group of 20 patients. All plaster models were scanned and dental landmarks were measured to identify changes from com- mencement (T 0 ) to conclusion (T 1 ) of treatment. Lateral cephalograms were analyzed for changes in the lower incisor (IMPA) and the first lower molar distal angulation (MAng). Intraoperator reliability was tested with linear regression analysis. To assure all groups were comparable at T 0 , an ANOVA test with a 95%confidence interval (CI) was performed for all values. To assess changes from T 0 to T 1 in all groups, a Student’s t-test with 95% CI was used. Finally, results from the three groups were compared using an ANOVA-test (95% CI) and a post-hoc test. Results: Increases in all the transverse variables were recorded in the two groups treated (SL and CL), except for the lower intercanine distance in the SL group. IMPA difference from T 0 to T 1 was higher in the CL group, and molar distal angulation (MAng) took place in the SL group. Conclusions: Self-ligating brackets with oversized arches and conventional ligating brackets showed increases in all variables in the transverse plane, except for the SL group at the mandibular intercanine distance. In comparison with the CL group, fewer different IMPA values were observed in the SL group, in which distal molar angulation occurred. Keywords: Self-ligating. Conventional. Transverse. Sagittal. 1 Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, School of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics (Barcelona, Spain). 2 Private practice (Almeria, Spain). 3 Private practice (Tarragona, Spain). Submitted: December 05, 2018 - Revised and accepted: February 20, 2019 » The authors report no commercial, proprietary or financial interest in the products or companies described in this article. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-6709.25.1.047-055.oar How to cite: Moyano J, Montagut D, Perera R, Fernández-Bozal J, Puigdollers A. Comparison of changes in the dental transverse and sagittal planes between patients treated with self-ligating and with conventional brackets. Dental Press J Orthod. 2020 Jan-Feb;25(1):47-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-6709.25.1.047-055.oar Contact address: Andreu Puigdollers Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universitat Internacional de Cata- lunya – Carrer de Josep Trueta s/n, Sant Cugat del Vallés, 08195 – Barcelona, Spain E-mail: andreup@uic.es Introdução: Já foram enumeradas diversas vantagens quanto à eficiência dos braquetes autoligáveis (BAL). Apesar das controvérsias na lite- ratura, resultados clínicos confirmam que o “desenvolvimento da arcada” demanda menos extrações. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar as mudanças nos planos transversal e sagital em pacientes tratados com braquetes convencionais (BC) e pacientes tratados com BAL e arcos superdimensionados. Métodos: A amostra foi selecionada de um grupo de 300 pacientes tratados consecutivamente por um mesmo ortodontista: 51 pacientes com BAL e arcos superdimensionados, e 55 com BC. Esses dois grupos foram comparados a um grupo controle (GC) de 20 pacientes. Todos os modelos de gesso foram escaneados e pontos de referência dentários foram mensurados, para se identificar as mudanças entre o início (T 0 ) e o fim do tratamento (T 1 ). Radiografias cefalométricas laterais foram analisadas para identificar mudanças nos incisivos inferiores (IMPA) e na angulação distal dos primeiros molares inferiores (MAng). A confiabilidade intraexaminador foi testada por meio de uma análise de regressão linear. Para garantir que os grupos fossem comparáveis em T 0 , realizou-se o teste ANOVA com intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95% para todos os valores. Para avaliar as mudanças entre T 0 e T 1 em todos os grupos, foi utilizado o teste t de Student com IC de 95%. Por fim, os resultados dos três grupos foram comparados utilizando-se o teste ANOVA (IC 95%) e um teste post-hoc. Resultados: Foram registrados aumentos em todas as variáveis transversais nos dois grupos tratados (BC e BAL), com exceção da distância intercaninos inferiores no grupo BAL. As maiores diferenças de T 0 para T 1 ocorreram no IMPA do grupo BC e na angulação distal de mo- lares (MAng) do grupo BAL. Conclusões: Ambos os grupos, BAL com arcos superdimensionados e BC, apresentaram aumento em todas as variáveis no plano transversal, com exceção da distância intercaninos inferiores no grupo BAL. Em comparação ao grupo BC, menores diferenças nos valores de IMPA foram observadas no grupo BAL, no qual aconteceu angulação distal de molares. Palavras-chave: Autoligáveis. Convencionais. Transverso. Sagital.