Premolar bracket position revised: proximal and occlusal contacts assessment

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Dental Biomechanics
• Craniofacial Development

Background:

• Accurate bracket slot positioning is crucial for predictable orthodontic treatment outcomes.
• The vertical placement of orthodontic brackets influences crown angulation and torque.
• Understanding the impact of bracket position on proximal and occlusal contacts is essential for achieving ideal occlusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of a conventional bracket slot vertical position (4 mm from the incisal edge) on crown spatial orientation.
• To assess the influence of this positioning on proximal contact balance and occlusal contacts relative to adjacent and opposing teeth.

Main Methods:

• Forty patients were divided into two groups based on bracket slot vertical positioning.
• One group had brackets placed 4 mm from the incisal edge; the other had individualized placement.
• Proximal contact differences and occlusal contacts were measured and analyzed using the chi-square test.

Main Results:

• Placing the bracket slot at the center of the clinical crown (FA point) consistently resulted in unbalanced proximal contacts exceeding 1 mm.
• This conventional positioning also led to an increased absence of occlusal contacts.

Conclusions:

• Positioning the bracket slot centrally on the premolar crown can cause marginal ridge discrepancies and occlusal contact loss.
• Functional occlusal analysis during orthodontic treatment finishing is recommended to ensure proper premolar crown positioning.