Encuesta sobre el uso de aparatología fija autoligable e individualización de arcos a la forma de arcada del paciente en ortodoncistas españoles

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the current situation in Spanish orthodontic clinics concerning the use of self-ligating brackets and the individualization of the archwire according to the patient´s arch form. An online survey was distributed to orthodontists (N= 511) of the Spanish Society of Orthodontics (SEDO).The questionnarie consisted of three parts, mainly containing multiple-choice questions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the groups were compared using the Chi-square test of independence. The results of the survey show that most participants work with both conventional and self-ligating brackets. The most widely used prescription in conventional fixed orthodontics was Roth´s with 57%, and the most widely used technique in self-ligating brackets was Damon´s with 62%. Dental casts and wax records were the methods favored by orthodontists that individualized archwires. Although most participants considered it important to individualize the archwires to the patient’s arch form, only half reported that they individualize archwires in all patients.