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Comparative time efficiency of aligner therapy and conventional edgewise braces
Peter H Buschang1, Steven G Shaw, Mike Ross
1a Regent's Professor and Director of Orthodontic Research, Department of Orthodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Dallas, Tex.
The Angle Orthodontist
|April 23, 2014
Summary
Aligner therapy (ALT) is more time-efficient than conventional edgewise braces (CEB), requiring fewer appointments and shorter treatment duration. However, ALT incurs higher material costs and doctor time, making its overall efficiency dependent on the orthodontist's experience.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Dental Technology
Background:
- Orthodontic treatment aims to correct malocclusions.
- Aligner therapy (ALT) and conventional edgewise braces (CEB) are common orthodontic methods.
- Comparing their time efficiency is crucial for clinical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the time efficiency of aligner therapy (ALT) and conventional edgewise braces (CEB).
- To evaluate treatment duration and appointment frequency in a large patient sample.
- To assess these factors under the care of a single, experienced orthodontist.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 150 CEB and 150 ALT patients with mild-to-moderate Class I malocclusions.
- Matching patients based on mandibular crowding and rotated teeth.
- Prospective timing of appointment types using a stopwatch.
Main Results:
- Conventional edgewise braces (CEB) required significantly more visits (approx. 4.0), longer treatment duration (5.5 months), and more chair time (93.4 minutes) compared to aligner therapy (ALT).
- Aligner therapy (ALT) demonstrated significantly higher total material costs and total doctor time (P<.01).
Conclusions:
- Aligner therapy (ALT) offers greater time efficiency in orthodontic treatment compared to conventional edgewise braces (CEB).
- The overall cost-effectiveness of ALT depends on balancing increased material costs and doctor time against time savings.
- Orthodontist experience and the volume of ALT cases influence the net benefit of aligner therapy.
