Digital Approach to Orthodontics: Research and Treatment

With the growing trend of digital dentistry, I would like to introduce the digital diagnosis and treatment using digital technologies including intraoral scanners, cone-beam CT scans, 3D facial scans, and 3D printing, and how to utilize them in orthodontic researches. Three kinds of imaging modalities, such as intraoral-scanned dental image, cone-beam CT, and 3D facial scans are properly blended and used for patient diagnosis and evaluation that has been independently performed using existing individual data can be performed at once from a more esthetic point of view.

Typically, there are Digital Bracket Setup and Digital Clear Setup in treatment. In order to accurately attach the orthodontic braces to the teeth, it is preferable to use the indirect bonding method, and there is an advantage in that the chair time of the patient is also reduced. However, this method requires a cumbersome laboratory process for inexperienced clinicians because it is essential to fabricate a precise plaster model and requires a complex laboratory process. If digital bracket setup is applied to this, a more efficient and accurate indirect bonding can be obtained. Infection control can also be minimized because there are no laboratory works required to scan the patient's dentition with an intraoral scanner and manage the plaster model without the alginate impression taking process. Furthermore, digital clear setup can be performed using intraoral scan data, and a clear aligner can be manufactured using 3D printing technology, which can lengthen the patient’s visit interval compared to treatment with a conventional fixed orthodontic braces. This is also advantageous in that customized orthodontic treatment can be performed in the post-COVID-19 era as it can minimize patient visits. In this lecture, I would like to introduce the digital approach in orthodontic treatment and research using intraoral scanners, cone-beam CT scans, 3D facial scans, and 3D printing that can be also used as a strategy to respond to the post-COVID-19 era.