The purpose of this research was to investigate the torque capacity of active and passive self-ligating brackets compared with metallic, ceramic, and polycarbonate edgewise brackets. Six types of orthodontic brackets were included in the study: the self-ligating Speed and Damon2, the stainless steel (SS), Ultratrimm and Discovery, the ceramic bracket, Fascination 2, and the polycarbonate bracket, Brillant. All brackets had a 0.022-inch slot size and were torqued with 0.019 x 0.025-inch SS archwires. For this purpose, the labial crown torque of an upper central incisor was measured in a simulated intraoral clinical situation using the orthodontic measurement and simulation system (OMSS). A torque of 20 degrees was applied and the correction of the misalignement was simulated experimentally with the OMSS. Each bracket/wire combination was measured five times. Maximum torquing moments and torque loss were determined. The results were analysed with one-way analysis of variance, with the bracket serving as the sole discriminating variable, and the Tukey test at the 0.05 level of significance. The ceramic bracket (Fascination 2) presented the highest torquing moment (35 Nmm) and, together with a SS bracket, the lowest torque loss (4.6 degrees). Self-ligating, polycarbonate, and selective metallic brackets demonstrated almost a 7-fold decreased moment developed during insertion of a 0.019 x 0.022-inch SS wire into a 0.022-inch slot and a 100 per cent increase in loss.