Treatment duration and gingival inflammation in Angle’s Class I malocclusion patients treated with the conventional straight-wire method and the Damon technique: a single-centre, randomised clinical trial

ABSTRACTObjective: To compare the duration of orthodontic treatment and Gingival Index (GI) scores in Class I malocclusion patients treated with a conventional straight-wire method (CG) or the Damon technique (DT).Design: Two-arm, parallel, randomised clinical trialSetting: A postgraduate orthodontic clinicParticipants: Patients with a balanced facial profile, a full permanent dentition and Angle’s Class I malocclusion with moderate crowding.Methods: The primary outcome was the duration of orthodontic treatment in months. GI scores throughout treatment were secondary outcomes and the PAR index was also assessed. Randomisation was accomplished using a table of random numbers and the allocation was concealed in sequentially numbered and opened, opaque, sealed envelopes. Blinding was applicable for PAR assessment only. Comparison of data between groups was performed with appropriate tests for independent samples.Results: Twenty-two patients were randomly allocated to treatment in a 1:1 ratio to either CG or ...