Comparison 4. Self‐ligating brackets versus conventional brackets.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
4.1 Maxillary incisor crowding (pre‐treatment and 10 weeks)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1.1 Pre‐treatment	2	166	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.17 [‐1.49, 1.15]
4.1.2 10 weeks	1	60	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.40 [‐0.93, 0.13]
4.2 Time to alignment	2	148	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	89.64 [‐45.89, 225.17]
4.3 Ligation time	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.3.1 Untying	1	68	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐22.30 [‐25.83, ‐18.77]
4.3.2 Ligating	1	60	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐78.80 [‐81.86, ‐75.74]
4.4 Change in lower incisor to mandibular plane	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.4.1 Change	1	33	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.29 [‐1.77, 4.35]