Does crown, root, and bone visualization in a clear aligner virtual setup impact treatment decisions?

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Dental Imaging
• Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

Background:

• Clear aligner technology utilizes machine learning for orthodontic treatment.
• 3D imaging of crown, root, and bone is proposed for accurate diagnosis and improved outcomes in complex adult cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if orthodontists modify treatment plans with 3D crown, root, and bone views.
• To assess changes in practitioner satisfaction with treatment outcomes after viewing 3D crown, root, and bone data.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to orthodontists.
• Respondents reviewed patient videos with crown-only and crown, root, and bone views generated by AI software.
• Statistical analysis evaluated the impact of 3D views on treatment planning and outcome satisfaction.

Main Results:

• 70 orthodontists participated, showing significant differences in responses between the two viewing methods.
• 33%-43% of practitioners changed their treatment plan sentiment (P <0.001).
• Average satisfaction ratings shifted by 10.6-21.0 points, with both increases and decreases observed (P <0.001).

Conclusions:

• 3D crown, root, and bone imaging influences orthodontists' clear aligner treatment plan decisions.
• Confirmation of dehiscence and fenestrations via root and bone views can decrease practitioner satisfaction, even with initial positive assessments.