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Author Spotlight: 3D Movement Assessment of Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Clear Aligner Treatment
Published on: February 23, 2024
3D palatal superimposition in adolescent orthodontic patients treated without extractions: method validation
Caroline Heni1, Eva Henninger1, Pawel Pazera1
1Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland.
Objectives:
This study investigated the morphological stability, trueness and precision of four palatal areas (A: medial 2/3 of third ruga and 5 mm posteriorly; B: A + additional 5 mm posteriorly; C: A + additional 6 mm wide stripe on midpalatal suture; D: almost whole palate) used for 3D superimposition of serial maxillary dental models in growing orthodontic patients treated without extractions.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective sample of 25 growing patients with pre- (T0) and post- (T1) treatment 3D dental models was used. Morphological stability was assessed using color-coded distance maps generated from superimposed T0 and T1 models. Trueness was determined by measuring the Mean Absolute Distances (MAD) within Area A between T0 and T1 models after superimposition. Precision was evaluated through the assessment of T0-T1 changes in three preselected teeth.
Results:
Treatment and growth modified the palatal surface morphology at the 0.5 mm level. Trueness remained below 0.3 mm in most cases for Areas A, B, and C, with a reduced level observed for Area D. The precision outcome was significantly affected with respect to tooth torque and rotations. Area D showed the best precision, followed by B, C, and A. Area B showed the best agreement to Area C. The overall assessment favored Area B.
Conclusion:
Considering overall performance, area B is recommended as the area of choice for superimposing pre-to post-orthodontic treatment maxillary dental models of growing individuals treated without extractions.
Clinical Relevance:
The suggested palatal superimposition method is broadly applicable and ensures reliable assessment of morphological changes through the superimposition of serial maxillary dental models.
