Effectiveness of laceback ligatures on maxillary canine retraction

To evaluate the effects of laceback ligatures on canine distalization during the leveling and aligning stage and to compare the effectiveness of laceback ligatures with that of superelastic NiTi closed coil springs.

Fifteen subjects were included in this study. Fixed orthodontic treatment was planned with the extraction of first premolars to solve crowding in upper and/or lower arches. Stainless steel direct-bonding Roth brackets (0.022-inch) were used. For canine distalization superelastic NiTi closed coil springs generating 150 g of force were used on one side. Lacebacks made from 0.010-inch ligature wire were applied on the contralateral side. Dental and skeletal changes were evaluated from predistalization and postdistalization lateral cephalometric and submento vertical radiographs. A Wilcoxon test was applied to determine the differences between predistalization and postdistalization mean values and to determine the mean differences between the groups.

Upper incisor crowns moved posteriorly. Distal movement and tipping of the canines were significant for both groups. Likewise, mesial movement and tipping of the first molars were significant for both groups. Furthermore, distopalatinal rotation of the canines was significant in the coil group. Canine and molar movements were greater for the coil group than for the laceback group, and the differences were significant. These differences may be attributed to force characterization, as well as to arch wire size and material.

The laceback ligatures proved to be effective for canine distalization. Less canine and molar movement was found for the laceback group, but more controlled movements were obtained for the sagittal, vertical, and transverse planes.