Evaluation of Cement Remaining After Debonding and Polishing in Lingual Multibracket Appliance Using Planning Imaging...

The aim of the present study was to assess the accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility of a novel digital technique to analyze the remaining cement after debonding lingual multibracket appliances and after polishing the remaining cement.

Thirteen teeth were embedded in an epoxy resin simulating a dental arch and subsequently a digital impression was taken using an intraoral scanner; obtaining a standard tessellation language (STL1) digital file. Lingual multibracket appliances were bonded and debonded on the lingual surfaces of all teeth and another digital impression was made (STL2). Finally, the polishing procedure of the remaining cement was performed and a digital impression was taken (STL3). The teeth were individually segmented from the digital files and an alignment was performed between STL1 and STL2 and between STL1 and STL3 digital files using specific cephalometric 2D/3D software to assess the remaining cement after debonding and after polishing lingual multibracket appliances. The reproducibility and repeatability capacity of the measurement digital method was assessed using a Gage R&R statistical analysis.

The results were assessed by a statistical program and showed a statistically significant (p < 0.001) decrease in weight, thickness, and height of the cement remaining after polishing, with a mean decrease of 2.09 mm in width (X plane), 0.12 mm in thickness (Y plane), and 1.87 mm in height (Z plane).

The use of novel digital diagnosis software is a repeatable, reproducible, and accurate measurement technique to analyze the remaining cement after debonding lingual multibracket appliances and after polishing the remaining cement.

The diagnosis cephalometric software evaluation of the polishing technique with different materials, burs or polishing sequences brings the research closer to the clinical field. This methodology allows the orthodontist to clinically measure the cement remnants after polishing without the need for teeth extraction and with current clinic objects such as intraoral scanning and orthodontic cephalometric software. This might give orthodontics more clearance in terms of better burs or protocols for polishing.