A novel customized ceramic bracket for esthetic orthodontics: in vitro study

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Manufacturing

Background:

• Developing a standardized manufacturing technique for customized esthetic ceramic brackets (CCB) to meet individual patient aesthetic demands.
• Evaluating the material characteristics and mechanical parameters of CCB.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a novel, standardized manufacturing process for customized esthetic ceramic brackets (CCB).
• To customize CCB with individual color and shape for patient satisfaction.
• To assess the material and mechanical properties of the developed CCB system.

Main Methods:

• Individualized virtual design of CCB based on patient morphology and clinical needs.
• Fabrication of CCB using 3D printing, lost-wax technique, and glass-ceramic ingots.
• Characterization via SEM, and evaluation of frictional resistance (FR), shear bond strength (SBS), and adhesive remnant index (ARI) with statistical analysis (ANOVA, Tukey's HSD).

Main Results:

• CCB offered a wide range of color and optical properties using multi-color/transparency raw materials.
• CCB exhibited comparable frictional resistance to commercial ceramic brackets.
• No significant difference in shear bond strength was found between CCB-ES, Clarity Advanced, and Crystalline VII; CCB-E showed the highest ARI score (3).
• Preliminary clinical trials showed excellent, nearly invisible color and shape matching to natural teeth.

Conclusions:

• Customized esthetic ceramic brackets (CCB) are a viable labial orthodontic system with optimized aesthetics and biomechanics.
• CCB presents an ideal alternative for patients seeking esthetic orthodontic treatment who prefer labial appliances over lingual or clear aligners.