Evaluation of the success of predicted dental changes with clear-aligner treatment: A pilot study

Objective: This pilot study concerned evaluation of the success of predicted dental changes in patients presenting with Class I malocclusions who were submitted to treatment aligners, using the superimposition.

Methods: The digital models were superimposed and analyzed using 3DSlicer 5.0 software. Treatment and predicted changes regarding horizontal and vertical linear displacements, mesiodistal rotations, and incisor buccolingual tipping were quantified. The success rates were calculated by dividing the mean treatment change amount by the predicted change amount.

Results: Lower-incisor intrusion was the most accurate of the predicted vertical displacements (86.96 %), and buccal expansion of upper canines (99.32 %) and mesial translation of the lower incisors (98.57 %) were the most accurate horizontal linear displacements. The predicted rotation was achieved with the highest accuracy for lower incisors (75.69 %). Incisor buccolingual tipping success rates ranged between 45.78 % and 69.31 %. Low accuracy of predicted changes was found for upper-molar extrusion (10.23 %) and constriction (8.91 %). However, minimal corrections in these directions were planned.

Conclusions: Dental changes for all regions of maxillary and mandibular arches could be evaluated. High success rates were observed for most of the movements planned for ClearCorrect aligner therapy.