Orthodontic brackets, specifically in their slots, are responsible for receiving active orthodontic forces and transferring them to the teeth to be moved. The presence of an altered slot or inaccurate dimensions can influence the mechanical relationship between the bracket and archwire, interfering with the biomechanics of tooth movement. The objective of this study was by comparing the accuracy of slot placement of upper right lateral incisor metal brackets for Bioprogressive Ricketts therapy from five trademarks. The following characteristics were evaluated: height, torque, and internal parallelism of the walls of the slot. The sample included 75 brackets, 15 each from the following trademarks: 3M Abzil, Forestadent, Morelli Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, and Tecnident. Images of the slot profiles were obtained through standardized techniques using scanning electron microscopy, measured by the AutoCAD 2017 software, and compared to Ricketts prescription, respecting standard deviation with the technical and tolerance parameters present in standard ISO 27020. The results indicated that most of the evaluated characteristics were in accordance with the standard parameters, considering the tolerance adopted. There were exceptions found to this pattern of precision in the 3M Abzil brackets with regard to torque variation, and the Morelli brackets in relation to height variation and parallelism between the walls of the slot. Considering the measured dimensional characteristics, the metal brackets used in Bioprogressive Ricketts therapy has satisfactory pattern accuracy; however, there are still some specific inaccuracies in brackets from certain brands that can require more attention during the detailing phase.
Keywords: brackets; parallelism; size; slot; torque.
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