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Author Spotlight: 3D Movement Assessment of Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Clear Aligner Treatment
Published on: February 23, 2024
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Evaluation of Tooth Movement Accuracy with Aligners: A Prospective Study
Vincenzo D'Antò1, Rosaria Bucci1, Vincenzo De Simone1
1Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Oral Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", 80138 Naples, Italy.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 12, 2022
Summary
Clear aligner treatment (CAT) predictability was evaluated by comparing planned versus achieved tooth movements. While rotation corrections were accurate, torque and tip movements showed variations, necessitating careful post-treatment assessment.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Dental Technology
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Clear aligner treatment (CAT) is a widely adopted orthodontic solution for various malocclusions.
- Assessing the predictability of CAT is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.
- The study focuses on evaluating tooth movement accuracy at an intermediate stage of treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictability of clear aligner treatment by comparing virtually planned and achieved tooth movements.
- To analyze the accuracy of torque, tip, and rotation corrections at the end of stage 15 of CAT.
- To identify specific tooth movements that deviate significantly from the digital setup.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen patients undergoing CAT were analyzed.
- Digital models were used to measure tooth positions at pre-treatment (T0), virtually planned stage 15 (T15i), and actual stage 15 (T15).
- Prescription, Achieved movement, and performance values were calculated and statistically analyzed using Student’s t test (p < 0.05).
Main Results:
- Rotation corrections demonstrated high accuracy across all analyzed teeth.
- Torque correction of second molars showed the largest overperformance (+2.3° ± 3.1°).
- Tip correction of first molars exhibited the greatest underperformance (−2.3° ± 3.3°).
- No significant differences were found between planned and achieved movements overall (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Accurate evaluation of CAT after the 15th aligner is essential.
- Identifying discrepancies between planned and achieved tooth movements allows for timely intervention.
- This assessment helps in refining treatment strategies for improved predictability.
