Effectiveness of clear aligner therapy in rotational tooth movement

Background/Aim: The present study investigates the effectiveness of Invisalign (Align Technology, San Jose, Calif) in rotational tooth movement. The aim of this research is to assess the accuracy of the predicted rotational movements in the digital treatment plan (Clincheck, Align Technology, San Jose, CA) compared to the actual achieved results following treatment completion. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of orthodontic patients who underwent clear aligner therapy for rotational tooth movements. Digital treatment plans and 3D models were used to predict the anticipated degree of rotation for each tooth. Post treatment, the achieved, rotational movements were measured in the same way and assessed quantitively. Results: Preliminary findings revealed a significant correlation between the predicted rotational movements and the actual outcomes. The variations were observed among different tooth types and degree of rotation, which were influenced by the complexity of the rotations and the type of teeth involved. Teeth with mild to moderate rotations demonstrated higher accuracy rates in alignment with the digital treatment plan, while more complex rotations exhibited slight discrepancies. The most accomplished tooth movement was found with 80 % accuracy in lower central incisors, 74.29 % accuracy in lower laterals, 71.43 % accuracy in upper central incisors and lower second premolars whereas the least accuracy was found with 28 % in lower canines. Conclusions: These results reveals the potential of Invisalign orthodontic treatment to accurately predict and achieve rotational movements. The study emphazises the importance of precise treatment planning and patient selection for optimal outcomes. Further research is warranted to explore factors contributing to the variations observed and to refine treatment protocols to enhance the accuracy of rotational tooth movements with Invisalign.