Three-Dimensional Modeling and 3D Printing of Biocompatible Orthodontic Power-Arm Design with Clinical Application

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing with biocompatible resins offers new competition to its opposition—subtractive manufacturing, which currently dominates in dentistry. Removing dental material layer-by-layer with lathes, mills or grinders faces its limits when it comes to the fabrication of detailed complex structures. The aim of this original research was to design, materialize and clinically evaluate a functional and resilient shape of the orthodontic power-arm by means of biocompatible 3D printing. To improve power-arm resiliency, we have employed finite element modelling and analyzed stress distribution to improve the original design of the power-arm. After 3D printing, we have also evaluated both designs clinically. This multidisciplinary approach is described in this paper as a feasible workflow that might inspire application other individualized biomechanical appliances in orthodontics. The design is a biocompatible power-arm, a miniature device bonded to a tooth surface, translating significant bio-mechanical force vectors to move a tooth in the bone. Its design must be also resilient and fully individualized to patient oral anatomy. Clinical evaluation of the debonding rate in 50 randomized clinical applications for each power-arm-variant showed significantly less debonding incidents in the improved power-arm design (two failures = 4%) than in the original variant (nine failures = 18%).

A Retrospective Digital Analysis of Contour Changing after Tooth Extraction with or without Using Less Traumatic Surgical Procedures

“…With advances in three-dimensional printing, the use of materials as biocompatible as possible had offered new clinical opportunities. These new techniques could be used to produce scaffold for tissues' reconstruction with a highly precise and accurate design [39] or to fabricate any structure of mechanical interest in dentistry, which appeared to be individualized for each patient (for example surgical guides and orthodontic power-arms) [40,41].…”

3D Printed Orthodontic Distalizer with Individual Base for Tooth-Borne Hybrid Approach in Class II Unilateral Malocclusions Treatment

“…Authors of this paper have recently published research focused on 3D printed orthodontic auxiliary -power-arm [70] using Finite Element Analysis approach for 3D design. Similar research, also implementing the Finite Element Method to evaluate the tooth movement efficacy of retraction springs made of a new β-titanium alloy was published with Tamaya et al [71].…”

Orthodontic Retention—Protocols and Materials—A Questionnaire Pilot Study among Polish Practitioners

“…The reason why Polish orthodontists bond their retainers directly may be the desire to avoid the laboratory costs (which may not seem cost-effective). An interesting, recently reported novelty is finding application in fixed post-orthodontic retention bonding using 3D printed materials [40]. These devices, appropriately designed on a 3D virtual model, could greatly facilitate direct bonding of retention wires in the future.…”