Rémi Ammann1,2, Christine Tanner1,2, Georg Schulz1,3, Bekim Osmani1,2, Prasad Nalabothu4,5, Tino Töpper1,2, Bert Müller1,2. 1. University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland. 2. University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, Basel, Switzerland. 3. University of Basel, Core Facility Micro- and Nanotomography, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland. 4. University Hospital Basel, Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Basel, Switzerland. 5. University of Basel, Center for Dental Medicine, Department of Pediatric Oral Health and Orthodontics, Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract
Purpose: The morphology of a polymer aligner, designed according to an orthodontic treatment plan, determines clinical outcomes. A fundamental element of orthodontic tooth movement with aligner treatment is the fit of the aligner's surface to the individual teeth. Gaps between the aligner and teeth do occur because current aligner fabrication is not capable of completely reproducing the complex anatomy of the individual denture. Our study aims at a quantitative three-dimensional assessment of the fit between optically transparent aligners placed on a polymeric model of the upper dental arch for two thermofoil thicknesses at preselected thermoforming temperatures. Approach: Using an intraoral scan of a subject's upper dental arch, eight models were printed using a stereolithographic system. A series of eight NaturAligners® was manufactured with a pressure molding process, using thermofoils with thicknesses of 550 and 750 μ m and preselected process temperatures between 110°C and 210°C. These aligners placed on the corresponding models were imaged by an advanced micro computed tomography system. The aligners and the models were segmented to extract the gaps and aligners' local thicknesses as a function of the processing temperature for the two foil thicknesses. Results: The results indicate that the aligners show a better fit when the foils are processed at higher temperatures. Nevertheless, processing temperatures can be kept below 150°C, as the gain becomes negligible. Thermal processing reduces the average thickness of the aligners to 60% with respect to the planar starting foil. These thickness distributions demonstrate that the aligners are generally thicker on the occlusal surfaces of molars and premolars but thinner around the incisors and buccal as well as on oral surfaces. Conclusions: Hard x-ray tomography with micrometer resolution is a powerful technique employed to localize the gaps between aligners and teeth, and it also enables film thickness measurements after thermoforming. The thicker film on the occlusal surfaces is most welcome because of aligner abrasion during wear. The NaturAligner® surfaces consist of a 25 - μ m -thin cellulose layer, and thus the microplastics released via abrasion of less than this thickness are expected to be substantially less critical than for other commercially available, optically transparent aligners.
Purpose: The morphology of a polymer aligner, designed according to an orthodontic treatment plan, determines clinical outcomes. A fundamental element of orthodontic tooth movement with aligner treatment is the fit of the aligner's surface to the individual teeth. Gaps between the aligner and teeth do occur because current aligner fabrication is not capable of completely reproducing the complex anatomy of the individual denture. Our study aims at a quantitative three-dimensional assessment of the fit between optically transparent aligners placed on a polymeric model of the upper dental arch for two thermofoil thicknesses at preselected thermoforming temperatures. Approach: Using an intraoral scan of a subject's upper dental arch, eight models were printed using a stereolithographic system. A series of eight NaturAligners® was manufactured with a pressure molding process, using thermofoils with thicknesses of 550 and 750 μ m and preselected process temperatures between 110°C and 210°C. These aligners placed on the corresponding models were imaged by an advanced micro computed tomography system. The aligners and the models were segmented to extract the gaps and aligners' local thicknesses as a function of the processing temperature for the two foil thicknesses. Results: The results indicate that the aligners show a better fit when the foils are processed at higher temperatures. Nevertheless, processing temperatures can be kept below 150°C, as the gain becomes negligible. Thermal processing reduces the average thickness of the aligners to 60% with respect to the planar starting foil. These thickness distributions demonstrate that the aligners are generally thicker on the occlusal surfaces of molars and premolars but thinner around the incisors and buccal as well as on oral surfaces. Conclusions: Hard x-ray tomography with micrometer resolution is a powerful technique employed to localize the gaps between aligners and teeth, and it also enables film thickness measurements after thermoforming. The thicker film on the occlusal surfaces is most welcome because of aligner abrasion during wear. The NaturAligner® surfaces consist of a 25 - μ m -thin cellulose layer, and thus the microplastics released via abrasion of less than this thickness are expected to be substantially less critical than for other commercially available, optically transparent aligners.
Authors: Stefan Klein; Marius Staring; Keelin Murphy; Max A Viergever; Josien P W Pluim Journal: IEEE Trans Med Imaging Date: 2009-11-17 Impact factor: 10.048
Authors: Denis P Shamonin; Esther E Bron; Boudewijn P F Lelieveldt; Marion Smits; Stefan Klein; Marius Staring Journal: Front Neuroinform Date: 2014-01-16 Impact factor: 4.081