Are Damon (self-ligating) braces better than traditional braces?
Not clearly. Damon and other self-ligating braces hold the wire with a built-in clip instead of elastic ties, and are often promoted as faster, less painful or needing fewer visits. A multi-centre randomised trial found no significant difference from conventional brackets in treatment time, number of visits or breakages. At Creative Arts in Dubai, our specialist orthodontists use conventional fixed braces and Invisalign; self-ligating brackets are explained here for information only.
Who treats you here Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz Specialist Orthodontist · Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko Specialist Orthodontist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
What does self-ligating mean?
Every fixed brace has two parts that do the work: a bracket bonded to each tooth and an archwire running through the brackets. The wire has to be held in a slot in each bracket. Holding it is called ligation.
In conventional braces, the wire is held by a tiny elastic ring (often the coloured ones children choose) or a thin twisted steel tie around each bracket. At adjustment visits the ties are removed, the wire is changed or adjusted, and new ties go on.
In self-ligating braces, each bracket has its own built-in mechanism, a sliding door or a spring clip, that closes over the wire. No separate ties are needed. There are two broad designs:
- Passive self-ligating brackets close a door over the slot without pressing on the wire, leaving it free to slide. Damon is the most widely known passive system.
- Active self-ligating brackets use a spring clip that presses on the wire once the wire is thick enough to fill the slot.
Self-ligating brackets come in metal and in tooth-coloured versions. Either way, the teeth are moved by the same wires and the same biology as with conventional braces.
Self-ligating braces: what is claimed, and what research shows
A summary in general terms. Individual studies differ, and research continues.
| Claim | The idea behind it | What the evidence suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Faster treatment | Less friction lets the wire slide, so teeth move more freely | A multi-centre randomised trial found no significant difference in overall treatment time; case complexity and attendance matter more |
| Fewer appointments | Wires are changed by opening clips, not replacing ties | The same trial found no significant difference in the number of visits; individual visits may be a little quicker |
| Less pain | Lighter friction means lighter forces | Studies have not shown a consistent difference in discomfort; the first days ache with any brace |
| Fewer extractions or a broader smile | Low friction lets the arch widen instead of needing space | Arch width is set mainly by the wire shape and the diagnosis; extraction decisions depend on the case, not the bracket |
| Easier cleaning | No elastic ties to trap plaque | Plausible, but results are mixed; cleaning habits matter far more than the bracket |
| Fewer breakages | Fewer parts that come loose | The trial found similar bond failure rates with both systems |
Laboratory friction tests do show differences between bracket designs, but inside the mouth many other factors, including bite forces, tooth contacts and the bone itself, govern how fast teeth move.
Are self-ligating braces faster?
This is the claim most people have heard, and the one research has tested most directly. The logic is that less friction between wire and bracket lets teeth slide more easily. In a laboratory, that is true: some self-ligating designs produce less friction than brackets with elastic ties.
In patients, the effect largely disappears. A multi-centre randomised controlled trial in the UK, published in The Angle Orthodontist, compared a self-ligating bracket with a conventional one and found no significant differences in treatment time, number of visits or bond failures; the authors concluded there was no clinically significant difference in treatment efficiency. Research overall is mixed: where differences have been reported, they tend to be small and inconsistent from study to study.
The reason is biological. Teeth move as fast as the bone around them remodels. Friction is only one of many forces in play, alongside the bite, contacts between teeth and the soft tissues. What most affects the length of treatment is the complexity of the case, elastic and appointment compliance, breakages and how well the plan fits the problem. Our guide to how long braces take explains those factors.
Do Damon braces hurt less, or avoid extractions?
Discomfort with any fixed brace follows a similar pattern: an ache that builds over the first two or three days, settles within about a week and returns briefly after some adjustments. Studies comparing self-ligating and conventional brackets have not shown a consistent difference in how much this hurts. Our guide do braces hurt? covers what helps.
The extraction claim is more important, because it can shape decisions about your face and bite. Self-ligating systems are sometimes presented as a way to widen the arch instead of removing teeth to create space. But arch width is determined mainly by the shape of the wires used and by what the bone and gums can safely support, not by the bracket. Whether a case needs extractions, expansion, interproximal reduction or none of these is a diagnostic decision; our guide to extractions for braces explains how orthodontists weigh it.
The orthodontist matters more than the bracket
Any modern bracket system, used by a trained orthodontist with a sound diagnosis, can produce an excellent result. A clear plan, specialist supervision and good retention make far more difference than how the wire is held.
Does Creative Arts use Damon or self-ligating braces?
Fixed orthodontic treatment at Creative Arts is provided with conventional fixed (metal) braces by our two specialist orthodontists, Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz and Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko, alongside Invisalign clear aligners. We do not offer self-ligating brackets as a named option, and we explain them here because patients ask about them and deserve a straight answer. If you are interested in a particular bracket system, ask at your consultation whether it would change anything for your case.
What you can expect from treatment here is the part that research does show matters: a diagnosis from examination, X-rays and a 3D scan, a written plan explaining the movements needed and the alternatives, regular reviews, and long-term retention. See fixed braces at Creative Arts for the full process.
Comparing braces options? See how our specialist orthodontists in Dubai diagnose your bite and plan conventional fixed braces, from records to retainers.
Explore bracesAre self-ligating braces worth the extra cost?
Self-ligating brackets usually cost more to manufacture than conventional ones, and that can be reflected in a quote. Whether that is worth paying depends on what you expect to gain. If the expectation is a markedly shorter treatment or less pain, the evidence does not support paying extra for those reasons alone. Some patients and orthodontists prefer the absence of elastic ties for hygiene or simply for the look of the bracket, which is a legitimate personal preference.
When comparing quotes, look at what is included rather than the bracket name: the records and X-rays, the number of reviews, breakages, retainers and follow-up after treatment. Our braces cost page explains what drives the price, and types of braces and ceramic and lingual braces describe the other options you may be offered elsewhere.