Method: Sixteen patients aged between 11 and 30 years, presenting Class I and II malocclusion, with minimum of 2 mm crowding treated without extraction, were divided into 2 groups: G1 (n = 8), conventional brackets (3M - Unitek) and G2 (n = 8), self-ligating brackets (Easyclip - Aditek). The intercanines, interfirst and second premolars, intermolars widths and arch length were measured in dental casts using a digital caliper, before (T1) and after six months of treatment (T2). Measurements of the thickness of the buccal bone plate were performed by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and a 3D program (Dolphin 11.5, Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions, Chatsworth, Calif., USA), with 25% level of sensitivity. Paired and non-paired “t” test, with 5% significance analyzed the results.
Result: A non-significant increase in transverse dimensions, and a slight reduction on thickness of the buccal bone plate were observed in both groups.
Conclusion: The dimensional changes of the transverse and thickness of the bone plate in the upper dental arches during the initial phase of treatment were similar, regardless the bracket design, self-ligating or conventional.