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Updated: Sep 17, 2025
Author Spotlight: 3D Movement Assessment of Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Clear Aligner Treatment
Published on: February 23, 2024
3D comparative analysis of designed versus achieved maxillary teeth movements and influencing factors following first
Waseem S Al-Gumaei1,2, Reem Al-Attab3, Hu Long1
1Department of Orthodontics, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Objectives:
This study aimed to compare the designed and achieved maxillary teeth movements in patients undergoing first premolar extraction after the initial series of Invisalign® treatment using a 3D whole-tooth (crown with root) model and research the related influencing factors.
Materials And Methods:
Thirty-three consecutive adult patients (Class I with crowding or bimaxillary protrusion) from a single clinical division who completed the first series of aligners after first premolar extractions were included in this retrospective study. The pretreatment, designed, and post-first series treatment teeth (crowns, roots, and bone) models were exported from ClinCheck® software (Align Technology). The superimposition of the models and 3D tooth movement measurements were constructed using Geomagic Studio Software 2014 (Raindrop Geomagic Inc., USA). Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed, and a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
Significant discrepancies were observed between the designed and achieved maxillary tooth movements, particularly in mesiodistal (except U1) and buccolingual (except U6) angular tooth movements (P < 0.05). In contrast, non-significant discrepancies were observed in linear buccolingual movements (P > 0.05). Significant discrepancies in mesiodistal (all teeth) and vertical (U1, U5, U6) tooth movements were more pronounced (P < 0.05). Key influencing factors included the usage of TADs, aligner generation (G6), attachment design, overbite, and gender (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
This study highlights significant deviations between the designed and achieved maxillary teeth (crowns with roots) movements following the first premolar extractions in the initial series of Invisalign®treatment. Key findings demonstrate significant mesiodistal (except U1) and buccolingual (except U6) angular movement deviations. While linear buccolingual movements were well-controlled, mesiodistal and vertical (U1, U5, U6) discrepancies were more pronounced, influenced by factors such as TADs usage, aligner generation (G6), attachment design, overbite, and gender. These findings may provide further evidence for virtual design during clear aligner treatment.
