Evaluation and comparison of the effect of elastomeric chain and stainless steel ligature wire on maxillary orthodontic miniscrew failure

Context: Orthodontic miniscrews are used for the purpose of conservation of anchorage. Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the orthodontic miniscrew failure between the elastomeric chain-supported retraction and stainless steel (SS) ligature-aided retraction. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional split mouth randomized controlled trial. Materials and Methods: The sample (30) was divided equally among the control group and the experimental group (15 each). Miniscrews were placed between second premolar and the first molar of maxilla. The experimental group was based on the split mouth technique wherein right or left side of the maxillary arch was treated using either an elastomeric power chain (EPC) engaged to the miniscrews directly (Group 1) or an EPC engaged indirectly to miniscrews with the help of SS ligature wire (Group 2). In control group, implants were placed in maxilla without any retraction force. Clinical signs of inflammation was assessed at the following interval; 7th day, 14th day, 1st month, 2nd month, and at the time of removal of implant. Statistical Analysis Used: Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test was used. Results: Mean rank of gingival inflammation was 28.33 at the 1st-month interval in Group 1 and inflammation remained high in the this group for all time intervals in comparison to Group 2. Group 2 showed highest mean rank of inflammation of 26.10 at 7th day. In control group, the inflammation remained low at all the time intervals. Moreover, the difference noted was statistically significant. Conclusions: The gingival inflammation around the peri-implant tissue with the application of EPC at various interval remained high in comparison to the EPC with SS group. The gingival inflammation in the control group was very less, and it remained less throughout the different time periods.