Abstract
The Control 21™ bracket system has several attributes that overcome many of the friction, binding, notching and management problems encountered with other bracket systems. The combination of a freely-moving slide in a base connected by an elastomer provides the basis for the new concept of a “bracket engine”: a source of low magnitude forces able to release friction and binding forces. The “bracket engine” is continually energised by functional forces that open or close the bracket slot. The bracket’s inherent elasticity reduces the severity of high forces that can damage periodontal tissue. This new concept of an active, dynamic bracket system will require a paradigm shift in thinking away from the current concept of the bracket as a passive participant in tooth movement. The mechanisms that create these attributes are explained and some potential developments are noted.