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Updated: Aug 9, 2025
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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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Comparison of maxillary anterior tooth movement between Invisalign and fixed appliances
Shaun J Murphy1, Sanghee Lee1, Joshua C Scharm1
1Division of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Summary
Fixed orthodontic appliances allow for significantly greater maxillary incisor and canine movement compared to Invisalign, particularly in rotation and tipping. This study highlights potential limitations of clear aligners in achieving complex tooth movements.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Background:
- Comparing the efficacy of clear aligners (Invisalign) versus traditional fixed orthodontic appliances is crucial for treatment planning.
- Understanding the precise tooth movement capabilities of different orthodontic systems is essential for achieving optimal patient outcomes.
- Artificial intelligence offers novel methods for analyzing complex 3D tooth movements in orthodontic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively compare maxillary incisor and canine movement between Invisalign and fixed orthodontic appliances.
- To identify specific limitations of Invisalign in achieving desired tooth movements.
- To utilize artificial intelligence for precise analysis of orthodontic tooth movement.
Main Methods:
- A randomized study of 60 patients (30 Invisalign, 30 fixed braces) from an orthodontic clinic.
- Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) analysis to assess initial treatment severity.
- An artificial intelligence framework (two-stage mesh deep learning) to analyze incisor and canine movement in six directions (buccolingual, mesiodistal, vertical, tipping, torque, rotation).
Main Results:
- Post-treatment PAR scores indicated similar overall treatment quality between Invisalign and fixed appliance groups.
- Significant differences in maxillary incisor and canine movement were observed between the two groups across all six directions (P < 0.05).
- Greater discrepancies were noted in rotation and tipping of the maxillary canine, and incisor/canine torque, with smaller differences in mesiodistal and buccolingual translation.
Conclusions:
- Fixed orthodontic appliances provide significantly greater control over maxillary incisor and canine movement compared to Invisalign.
- Invisalign may have limitations in achieving extensive rotation and tipping, particularly for the maxillary canine.
- AI-driven analysis provides a robust method for quantifying and comparing orthodontic tooth movements.
