Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Not Yet Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07638397

Orthodontic Treatment Outcomes of Self Ligating System Compared to Clear Aligner System

This study is a multi-center, prospective, parallel-group randomized controlled trial designed to compare the orthodontic treatment outcomes of a passive self-ligating bracket system (Damon Ultima) versus a clear aligner system. The primary objective is to evaluate and compare the total orthodontic treatment duration between the two systems in patients with Angle Class I malocclusion and moderate crowding. Secondary objectives include assessing alignment efficiency, patient pain perception at multiple time intervals, dental arch dimension changes, root volume loss percentage, and overall treatment quality using the American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS).

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Conditions

Angle Class I Maloclussion Behavior Crowding Dental Crowding Spatial Behavior

Age range

16 year–32 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Baghdad

Baghdad, Al-Rusafa, 0964, Iraq

About this study

Participants aged 17-32 years with full permanent dentition, Class I canine and molar relationships, and moderate crowding (4-8 mm) will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the Damon Ultima group or the Clear Aligner group.

For the Damon Ultima group, brackets will be bonded according to a standardized protocol, utilizing a precise archwire sequence from 0.014-inch CuNiTi up to 0.019x0.0275-inch stainless steel wires. For the Clear Aligner group, patients will be treated with a series of thermoformed removable aligners designed via digital software, with instructions to wear them for 22 hours per day, changing aligners every 2 weeks.

Outcome measurements will include total treatment duration in months, pain perception via a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), dental arch changes on 3D digital models, and root resorption via Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) radiographs.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Good oral and general health; no systemic conditions affecting bone metabolism or pain perception.
  • Age range between 16-32 years.
  • Presence of full permanent dentition except the third molars.
  • Class I canine and molar relationship moderate crowding in both arches (6-8 mm) requiring fixed orthodontic treatment.
  • Without previous orthodontic treatment/ functional appliances.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients will be excluded from enrollment if they have a substantial skeletal discrepancy necessitating orthognathic surgery.
  • Patient with class Ⅱ , Ⅲ malocclusion.
  • Patient with external or internal root resorption.
  • Patients with poor oral hygiene or active periodontal disease.
  • 90o or more degree of tooth rotation.

Treatment and study plan

self ligating bracket

Device

Teeth will be bonded with Damon Ultima® bracket system by the same protocol of bonding for all patients with the same bonding materials, time and curing apparatus by highly filled light-cure adhesive (Enlight, Ormco Corp., Glendora, California, USA). Archwire sequence will be: 0.014-inch CuNiTi, 0.018-inch CuNiTi, 0.014×0.0275-inch CuNiTi, 0.018×0.0275-inch CuNiTi archwires and 0.019×0.0275-inch stainless steel Ultima finishing archwires if needed.

Appointment intervals will be 6-8 weeks for treatment mechanics, including use of inter-arch elastics, bite raiser, and finishing procedures will be standardized. All patients will receive oral hygiene instructions at each visit. In case of bracket failure, brackets will be rebonded using the same system within 24 hours, otherwise the case would be considered as dropout.

Clear aligner

Device

a series of invisible thermoformed removable aligners after designed by software and delivered to patients after the digital scanning of the initial models.

A series of nearly invisible appliances to incrementally move the teeth from their crowded initial position to their final straightened position, these subjects will instructed to wear each aligner 22 hours a day, 7 days a week . The anterior teeth will be reduce at each interproximal location by means of diamond-coated finishing strips used for interproximal reduction , in case of debond attachment should be bonded within 24 hours.

Primary outcomes

  1. Primary Objectives : Total Treatment Duration.

    Time frame: From baseline (day of bonding/delivery) up to treatment completion (estimated 14 to 28 months).

    The total time required to complete the orthodontic treatment from the day of appliance bonding/delivery to the day of debonding/treatment completion.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Patient Pain Perception.

    Time frame: "Baseline (Day 1), and at 6 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, and 7 days following the initial appliance insertion and after each subsequent archwire activation or aligner change throughout the active treatment phase, up to 14 months."

    Changes in pain levels scored by patients using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "severe, unbearable pain".

    Units on a scale (0-10).

  2. Dental Arch Alignment Efficiency

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and at the completion of the leveling and alignment phase, up to 6 months.

    Assessment of dental crowding reduction measured on 3D digital models using Little's Irregularity Index (LII) Unit of Measure: Millimeters (mm).

  3. Changes in Dental Arch Dimensions

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and through study completion, an average of 14 months

    Measurement of dental arch length, arch perimeter, and transverse widths (inter-canine, inter-premolar, and inter-molar widths) on 3D digital models.

    Unit of Measure: Millimeters (mm).

  4. Root Volume Loss Percentage.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and through study completion, an average of 14 months

    Evaluation of external apical root resorption and volume loss percentage of the teeth calculated via Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

    Unit of Measure: Percentage (%).

  5. Objective Grading System Score.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 months

    Evaluation of the final orthodontic treatment outcome quality using the American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS) on digital models.

    Unit of Measure: Points/Score.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Harraa Sabbah Abul ameer

CONTACT

[email protected]

+9647904546371

Mohanad Ali Mohammed

CONTACT

[email protected]

+9647702797532

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Baghdad

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Orthodontic Treatment Outcomes of Self Ligating System Compared to Clear Aligner System : A Randomized Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Jun 10, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 7, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.