Effectiveness of computer-assisted orthodontic treatment technology to achieve predicted outcomes

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of computer-assisted orthodontic treatment technology to produce the tooth position prescribed by the virtual treatment plan. Materials and Methods: Posttreatment models of 23 patients treated with SureSmile were digitally superimposed on their corresponding virtual treatment plan models utilizing best-fit surface-based registration. Individual tooth-position discrepancies between virtual treatment plan and actual outcome were computed. Discrepancies less than 0.5 mm in mesial-distal, faciallingual, and vertical dimensions, and less than 2° for crown torque, tip, and rotation were considered clinically ideal. One-sided test of equivalence was performed on each discrepancy measurement, with P < .05 considered statistically significant. Results: Mesial-distal tooth position was clinically ideal for all teeth with the exception of maxillary lateral incisors and second molars. Facial-lingual tooth position was clinically ideal for all teeth except maxillary central incisors, premolars, and molars, and mandibular incisors and second molars. Vertical tooth position was clinically ideal for all teeth except mandibular second molars. For crown torque, tip, and rotation, discrepancy exceeded the limits considered clinically ideal for all teeth except for crown torque on mandibular second premolars and crown tip on mandibular second premolars and first molars. Conclusions: The effectiveness of computer-assisted orthodontic treatment technology to achieve predicted tooth position varies with tooth type and dimension of movement.