Damon
Braces.
Self-Ligating
Orthodontics.
Damon braces use a sliding door mechanism instead of elastic ties — reducing friction between the archwire and bracket, allowing freer wire movement, and cutting chairside adjustment time at every visit. Preferred at Hassaan Dental Clinic for complex cases, adult orthodontics, and patients who value efficiency. Starting at PKR 85,000.
The mechanism behind
self-ligating orthodontics.
Every conventional bracket holds the archwire in place using an elastic O-ring or metal ligature — a small tie that wraps around the bracket and wire. These ties create friction between the wire and bracket, resisting tooth movement and requiring replacement at every appointment. Damon brackets replace this with a passive sliding door — a small clip built into the bracket that holds the wire without gripping it tightly.
The result is a system in which the archwire can slide more freely within the bracket slot, responding to the tooth's biological response rather than being held rigidly in place. This reduced friction allows lighter forces to be used effectively, theoretically allowing teeth to move with less resistance during treatment.
In clinical practice, Damon's most consistently proven advantage is chairside efficiency — wire changes are objectively faster (approximately 24 seconds faster per bracket), appointments are shorter, and the absence of elastics makes the brackets easier to clean around. Whether total treatment time is meaningfully shorter than conventional braces remains an area of mixed evidence — which Dr. Haris will explain honestly at your consultation.
Built-in clip holds the wire without gripping it — wire slides freely within the slot. No elastic O-rings. No metal ties. Lower friction, easier cleaning.
Elastic or wire tie wraps around the bracket and wire — creating friction and binding. Replaced at every appointment. Can trap plaque. Slower wire changes.
Wire changes take approximately half the time compared to elastic-tie brackets — appointments are shorter and more efficient. Objectively measured in clinical studies.
No elastic ties around the bracket means fewer areas for plaque to accumulate. Particularly beneficial for patients who find brushing around braces challenging.
Reduced friction between wire and bracket allows lighter, more continuous forces — potentially more comfortable during active tooth movement phases.
Dr. Haris uses Damon brackets as his preferred system for complex malocclusions, adult orthodontics, and pre-restorative orthodontic treatment within full mouth rehabilitation plans.
Some studies show a trend toward fewer appointments with Damon brackets. Dr. Haris typically schedules Damon patients at 6–10 week intervals vs 4–6 weeks for conventional systems.
What Damon braces
actually deliver.
Damon braces are marketed with bold claims. Here is what the peer-reviewed research published in PubMed-indexed journals actually shows — including where evidence is strong, where it is mixed, and where marketing outpaces the science.
The evidence base for Damon braces is genuinely mixed on some claims — and no responsible practitioner should overstate what the science shows. What is consistently proven is that Damon brackets offer objectively faster wire changes and shorter individual appointments. For patients who value efficiency and fewer visits, that matters. For complex cases where wire dynamics during initial alignment are critical, the lower friction of self-ligating brackets has genuine mechanical advantages. Dr. Haris uses Damon as his preferred bracket for complex malocclusions, adult patients, and pre-FMR orthodontics — not because of marketing claims, but because of chairside efficiency and wire management advantages in demanding cases.
Wire ligation at each appointment is approximately twice as fast per bracket compared to elastic ties. This is consistently supported across clinical measurements. Appointments are shorter. Chairside time is objectively reduced. This advantage is clinically real and not disputed.
A 2024 meta-analysis found a trend toward 2.79 months shorter treatment with Damon brackets — but this was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Earlier studies showed lower treatment times; others showed no difference. The consensus: Damon may be marginally faster, but the evidence is not strong enough to promise it. Dr. Haris will give you a realistic timeline at consultation.
The claim that Damon braces reduce or eliminate the need for tooth extractions is not supported by systematic reviews. Whether extractions are needed depends on arch length, crowding severity, and bite mechanics — not the bracket system used. The AJODO has published peer-reviewed critiques of this marketing claim. Extractions are determined by your case, not your bracket.
Who should choose
Damon braces — and who might not?
Damon braces are an excellent bracket system — but they are not automatically the right choice for every patient. Dr. Haris will recommend the most appropriate option after your orthodontic assessment.
From consultation to
retention — every step.
Every orthodontic treatment at Hassaan Dental begins with a full clinical assessment — records, photographs, X-rays, and a detailed digital treatment plan before any brackets are bonded.
Dr. Haris conducts a full orthodontic assessment — clinical examination, OPG panoramic X-ray, lateral cephalometric X-ray (where indicated), intraoral photographs, and dental study models or intraoral digital scan. This data builds your complete clinical picture: tooth positions, bone levels, bite relationship, jaw alignment, and the degree of crowding, spacing, or rotation in each arch. A full treatment plan, timeline, and cost breakdown are presented before any brackets are placed.
If any teeth require extraction prior to orthodontics (space creation for crowding), these are performed first and the sites allowed to heal. Any existing gum disease is treated and stabilised — orthodontic forces should never be applied to periodontally compromised dentition. If restorative work is planned before or alongside orthodontics, a coordinated sequence is mapped.
The teeth are cleaned and conditioned with bonding agent. Each Damon bracket is bonded individually to the facial surface of every tooth — positioned precisely using the treatment plan as reference. The initial archwire (typically a very light, flexible nickel-titanium wire) is threaded through each bracket and the self-ligating door is closed — no elastic ties, no ligatures. The procedure is painless. Some patients notice mild pressure as the initial wire begins engaging misaligned teeth over the first 24–48 hours.
At each adjustment appointment, Dr. Haris opens the Damon self-ligating door, removes the current archwire, assesses tooth position progress, and places the next wire in the sequence — progressing from lighter, more flexible wires in early treatment to stiffer, more precise wires as the teeth near their final positions. Appointments are typically shorter than conventional bracket adjustments because no elastic ties need to be removed and replaced. Total treatment duration is typically 12–24 months depending on case complexity.
When Dr. Haris is satisfied with tooth positions, bite alignment, and treatment outcome, the brackets are removed. Debonding with Damon brackets involves opening each self-ligating door, removing the wire, and debonding each bracket using a specialised instrument. The bonding adhesive remaining on the teeth is polished off. Final records — photographs and a scan — are taken to document the outcome.
Teeth are biologically inclined to move back toward their pre-treatment positions — a process called relapse. Retainers are the only thing that prevents this. At Hassaan Dental, retainers are provided in the same appointment as bracket removal — either fixed (bonded wire on the back of the front teeth) or removable (clear vacuum-formed retainer worn nightly). Both types are available. Retainer wear is long-term — ideally lifelong for night-time wear. No retainer = eventual relapse. This is non-negotiable regardless of which bracket system was used.
How Damon compares to every
other option at Hassaan Dental.
All orthodontic options at Hassaan Dental in one honest table. The right choice depends on your case, your aesthetics preferences, and your lifestyle — not on which one is most expensive.
| Feature | ★ Damon | Ceramic | Metal | Clear Aligners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💰 PRICING (PKR) | ||||
| Starting price | 85,000 | 75,000 | 60,000 | Assessed |
| Monthly adjustment | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | Varies |
| Retainers (per arch) | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| 🦷 BRACKET SYSTEM | ||||
| Wire ligation method | Self-ligating door | Elastic ties | Elastic ties | No brackets |
| Friction level | ✓ Low | Moderate | Moderate | N/A |
| Adjustment time per visit | ✓ Fastest | Standard | Standard | No adjustments |
| 👁️ AESTHETICS | ||||
| Visibility | Visible (silver) | ✓ Low (tooth-colour) | Visible (silver) | ✓ Nearly invisible |
| Staining risk | None | Slight bracket staining | None | Aligner staining if not cleaned |
| ✅ CLINICAL PERFORMANCE | ||||
| Complex malocclusion | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Good | ✓ Good | Moderate — case dependent |
| Oral hygiene | ✓ No elastic plaque traps | Elastic ties collect plaque | Elastic ties collect plaque | ✓ Removable — excellent |
| Discipline required | Fixed — no compliance | Fixed — no compliance | Fixed — no compliance | 22 hrs/day wear required |
| Best for complex FMR cases | ✓ Dr. Haris's preference | Possible | Possible | ✗ Usually not indicated |
Damon braces from
PKR 85,000. Everything included.
All orthodontic prices at Hassaan Dental Clinic are transparent — you know the full cost before any brackets are bonded. No surprise charges at adjustment visits.
Important: Unit prices remain the same; final treatment cost may vary after clinical examination. The number of monthly adjustment visits depends on treatment duration. Total number of appointments is discussed at your consultation — a realistic estimate based on your case complexity. Retainers are a separate, essential cost and are always recommended.
Damon braces
questions answered.
Honest answers — including the claims that the evidence doesn't fully support.
Straight teeth start with
an honest assessment.
An orthodontic consultation (PKR 1,000) includes OPG X-ray, full clinical records, a realistic treatment plan, and a clear timeline — so you know exactly what your treatment involves before committing. No marketing promises. No pressure.
