PERCEPTION OF TREATMENTS WITH SELF-LIGATING AND CONVENTIONAL BRACKETS IN PERUVIAN ORTHODONTISTS

Introduction: Orthodontists' perception of bracket techniques plays a significant role in planning, allowing critical evaluation of the patient's facial aesthetics. Objective: To compare the perception of Peruvian orthodontists regarding treatments with self-ligating and conventional brackets. Methods: A questionnaire was applied to 168 orthodontic specialists (53% men, average professional experience 9 years) to evaluate preferences for treatment phases, benefits of patient consultation according to the type of bracket, experience with self-ligating brackets, and demographic and clinical characteristics (sex, years of experience, volume of care and length of experience). The Kruskal-Wallis Test and Chi-square test were used with P < 0.05. Results: The total preference for self-ligating brackets (48.9%) was higher than conventional brackets (18.8%). Self-ligating brackets were preferred in most treatment phases (46.4%-63.7%) but not in completion and finishing, in which conventional brackets were preferred. Most orthodontists preferred self-ligating brackets (40.5%-60.7%) over conventional brackets (4.2%-14.3%) due to patient comfort, oral hygiene, and total treatment and appointment time control, but not the cost. The orthodontists reported SLB having mastered their technique in <10 cases (59.5%), the experience of <2 years (45.2%), applying control times of 4-9 weeks (78.6%), and feeling comfortable with their use (89.3%). Preferences were not associated with sex (P > 0.05) but rather with years of professional experience (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Peruvian orthodontists preferred self-ligating brackets over conventional brackets in most treatment phases associated with user comfort and oral hygiene management and treatment/control time, and professional experience. However, some factors, such as cost-effectiveness, counteracted this preference.