Previous investigations have shown that the self-ligating brackets had a markedly lower friction than conventional brackets. The self-ligating brackets with a passive slide does not apply a ligation force to the archwire.
Metabolism by peptidases plays an important role in modulating the levels of biologically active neuropeptides, while that of substance P (SP), a component of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), may potentiate the inflammatory process in orthodontic tooth movement. SP may be involved in the periodontal inflammation and pain during orthodontic tooth movement.
However, little information is available concerning the effects of self-ligating brackets on SP in the GCF during orthodontic tooth movement in human subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate GCF levels of SP during human orthodontic tooth movement using the Damon System.
The subjects were 10 patients undergoing orthodontic movement (leveling) of six teeth, with the antagonist teeth used as the controls. GCF was sampled at 0, 1, 24, and 168 hours after initiation. Prevention of plaque-induced inflammation allowed assessment of the dynamics of mechanically stimulated SP levels in the GCF, which was determined using commercially enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.
GCF levels of SP for Damon System sites were significantly lower than for the corresponding control teeth at 24 hours. These results show that the Damon System inhibited increasing amounts of SP in the GCF with orthodontic tooth movement, and indicate that the Damon System is a useful system for reduction of inflammation and pain in response to mechanical orthodontic force.