Clinical trials of Chitra band material

Stainless steel band material was developed and tested for physico-chemical mechanical toxicological and in-vitro evaluation in dogs, at the Sree Chitra Thirunal Medical Institute, Trivandrum. Weld strength and tensile strength were measured with the Instron testing machine. A clinical pilot study was conducted at College of Dental Surgery, Manipal on 150 patients earlier. In the present study, Chitra bands were cemented on upper and lower molars on one side and Dentaurum bands on the other side, as controls in the same patient. The band was allocated to right and left molars at random. The study was a double blind trial. Thus fifty cases had Chitra bands on the left side and fifty on the tight side. Hundred cases were treated with fixed appliance treatment. The age, sex and technique of treatment were recorded. The spot welder and the cement used were also noted. The patients were recalled every month for nine months and the findings entered in the initial and follow-up proforma by another Orthodontist, making it a blind study. Loose bands, broken bands, broken tubes, broken welds, plaque accumulation, gingival bleeding and gingivitis were noted. The findings will be presented and the clinical applicability of Chitra Band Material discussed.