• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.33 no.1 s.96
• /
• pp.21-29
• /
• 2003

Recent developments in software technology have made it possible to create a virtual three-dimensional model of the dental arches from digitally scanned casts of a patient's dentition. This modelmay then be manipulated with software to produce stages of tooth movement from the initial malocclusion to the final desired occlusion. A sterolithograghic model is made for each stage of tooth movement which is the basis for construction of a series of clear and thin overlay appliances. These appliances are worn full time by the patient to move the teeth according to the programmed stages of movement. Malocclusions involving mild to moderate crowding and space closure have been proven to be successfully treated with this appliance. Experience with this appliance has demonstrated excellent patient compliance with less discomfort, improved esthetics and oral hygiene control, when compared with fixed orthodontic appliances. Orthodontic treatment with this appliance is a potentially useful alternative approach to fixed appliances for treatment of a variety of malocclusions in patients with fully erupted permanent teeth.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.142-152
• /
• 2024

Objective: This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess and compare the accuracy of 3 different Invisalign^® treatment regimens in terms of variations of aligner change frequency and type of aligner material in achieving maxillary dental buccal expansion. Methods: Altogether, 120 adult patients whose treatment involved maxillary dental expansion with Invisalign^® were included. The patients were divided into 3 groups, with each group comprising 40 patients as follows: SmartTrack^® 1-week changes (ST1), SmartTrack^® 2-week changes (ST2), and EX30^® 2-week changes (EX2). The groups were assessed by comparing actual changes achieved with those prescribed by ClinCheck^®. The rates of clinically significant inaccuracies (CSI) observed for buccal expansion (≥ 0.5 mm) and buccolingual inclination (≥ 2°) during expansion were then determined. Results: In terms of expansion, the ST1 group demonstrated the highest CSI rate at all tooth levels, whereas the ST2 group had the lowest rate of CSI and the lowest mean inaccuracy for each tooth level. In terms of buccolingual inclination, the ST1 group had the highest CSI rate across all tooth levels, whereas the EX2 group had the lowest CSI rate at all tooth levels except for the canine level where the ST2 group had the lowest CSI rate. A tendency toward overexpression of buccal crown inclination, and underexpression of buccal expansion was observed at all tooth levels. Conclusions: Two-week aligner change regimens offer improved accuracy compared with 1-week aligner changes. SmartTrack^® 2-week changes were the most accurate for buccal expansion, whereas EX30^® 2-week changes were the most accurate for buccolingual inclination.