Operating time for wire ligation with self-ligating and conventional brackets: A standardized in vitro study.

Objective: Operating time is one of the main advantages attributed from the literature to the use of self-ligating brackets (SLB). The aim of this study is to investigate the time needed for a complete archwire change procedure with conventional brackets (CB) and SLBs in a standardized in vitro research setting, comparing operators with different expertise.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-three participants were divided into three equal groups: undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and orthodontists.