Assessment of tooth movement efficiency during classical orthodontic and clear align therapy

The process of orthodontic tooth movement is initiated by applying forces to the teeth via particular appliances that orthodontists carefully choose, place, and activate based on the identified malocclusion. The response of the teeth and their supporting tissues to these forces involves a complex biological reaction, resulting in the movement of the teeth through the surrounding structures. Conventional orthodontic treatment utilizing fixed appliances facilitates tooth movement to treat different kinds of malocclusion by employing fixed components on the surfaces of teeth, including orthodontic bands, brackets, archwires, ligatures, and abutments. The popularity of aligners in orthodontic treatment has notably increased in recent years, especially among older individuals primary because of their aesthetic advantages, comfort, and the ease of maintaining oral hygiene compared to conventional fixed braces. Regarding the importance of this issue from a clinical perspective, and because this issue is underpinned by scientific literature, we have set the following aim for this study- to compare the movement of the crown and root of the tooth between the two studied groups (traditional braces therapy and aligner therapy) after a predetermined time frame from the beginning of treatment. To achieve the defined objectives, a clinical trial was conducted at the private dental office "ALJBI ORTODENT" in Tetovo. Total number of 360 teeth from 30 subjects suffering from primary crowding malocclusion were included in this study. The study population as categorized into two groups of 15 individuals each, as follows: (1)First group: 15 patients, a total of 180 teeth, from both genders,
who will be treated with a fixed appliance, DentaurumRrooth 0.22. and (2) second group: 15 patients, a total of 180
teeth, of both genders, who will be treated using an aligner, Biolon 0.75.The post-treatment digital models and the final virtual treatment plan were exported from the software as STL files and subsequently imported into Geomagic Qualify® software for comparison of the final tooth positions. Variations were calculated and analyzed for statistical significance for each tooth in the mesial-distal dimensions. For F=1.700 and p>0.05 (p=0.193) there is no significant difference between the value of the mesial-distal direction of the teeth at the beginning of the study (To), one month after treatment (T1), three months after treatment (T3), treated with a fixed appliance and an aligner. Clear aligner therapy marks a notable progression in orthodontic care, providing benefits over conventional braces, including enhanced aesthetics, greater comfort, and improved oral hygiene. Research indicates that clear aligners are effective in addressing mild to moderate malocclusions, requiring fewer visits and shorter treatment times than traditional fixed appliances. Consequently, it is essential for clinicians to weigh the attributes of these two types of orthodontic devices when determining treatment options.
Keywords: Orthodontic 3D model; tooth movement; Orthodontic fixed appliances; Clear aligners; Geomagic
software