Optimal settings for different tooth types in the virtual bracket removal technique

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Digital dentistry
• Computer-aided design (CAD)

Background:

• Accurate reconstruction of buccal tooth surfaces is crucial for virtual bracket removal (VBR).
• Different computer-aided design (CAD) software settings may impact reconstruction accuracy.
• Optimizing VBR settings is essential for reliable digital treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify optimal computer-aided design (CAD) settings for reconstructing buccal tooth surfaces using the virtual bracket removal (VBR) technique.
• To evaluate the accuracy of VBR reconstructions across different tooth types and CAD software settings.

Main Methods:

• Ten digital dentitions were analyzed using five VBR settings from three CAD systems (OrthoAnalyzer, Meshmixer, Geomagic Studio).
• Root mean squares (RMSs) between reconstructed and original surfaces were calculated.
• RMS values were compared against a clinically acceptable limit (CAL) of 0.10 mm.

Main Results:

• The tangent (G1) setting from Geomagic Studio achieved the highest overall accuracy, with 94.83% of reconstructions below the CAL.
• G1 settings resulted in significantly lower mean RMS values for all teeth compared to other settings (P < .001).
• Meshmixer (M) and curvature (G2) settings showed good accuracy for incisors and canines in both upper and lower dentitions.

Conclusions:

• Optimal VBR settings vary depending on tooth type.
• The tangent (G1) setting generally provides the best performance for reconstructing buccal tooth surfaces across various tooth types.
• CAD software settings significantly influence the accuracy of virtual bracket removal reconstructions.