A new self-ligating lingual bracket with square slots.

always been the complexity of ligation. Since single ties cannot guarantee stable ligation, the double­over tie has become more prevalent, espe­ cially for Kurz­style brackets.1 Small lingual brackets such as the STb* have narrow, shallow slots that make it extremely difficult to perform double­over ties while seating the archwire cor­ rectly. When horizontal slots are used, loose liga­ tion has a negative impact on the clinician’s ability to control rotation and torque.2,3 Torque control can also be affected by loss of contact between the wire and the bracket slot during ante­ rior retraction.4 On the other hand, most brackets with vertical slots cannot effectively control tip­ ping or tooth height when ligation is loose. A further drawback of ligation techniques that require seating the archwire deep in the brack­ et slots, such as the double­over tie, is the friction generated between the wire and ligature.5 Passive self­ligating brackets minimize friction while producing light, continuous orthodontic forces that allow the teeth to move more smoothly.4,5 Chairtime is reduced, and any negative effects due to the ligation skill of the operator are eliminated.