Predicted and actual end-of-treatment occlusion produced with aligner therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare three-dimensional (3D) ClinCheck™ models with the subjects' actual 3D posttreatment models using the American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (OGS).


METHODS
This prospective, within-subject study included 27 consecutive cases treated with aligner therapy. The posttreatment plaster models taken immediately after treatment were scanned and converted to stereolithography (STL) files; the ClinCheck models were also converted to STL format. MeshLab software was used to measure the seven components of the OGS, including alignment, marginal ridges, buccolingual inclinations, occlusal contacts, occlusal relationships, overjet and interproximal contacts. An overall OGS deduction score was also calculated.


RESULTS
Compared with the posttreatment models, the ClinCheck models showed significantly (P  =  .016) fewer overall OGS point deductions (24 vs 15). These overall differences were due to significantly (P < .05) more deductions among the posttreatment models than the ClinCheck models for alignment (4.0 vs 1.0 deductions), buccolingual inclinations (4.0 vs 3.0 deductions), occlusal contacts (3.0 vs 2.0 deductions), and occlusal relations (4.0 vs 2.0 deductions).


CONCLUSIONS
The ClinCheck models do not accurately reflect the patients' final occlusion, as measured by the OGS, at the end of active treatment.
a  Regent's Professor and Director of Orthodontic Research, Department of Orthodontics, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX.
Peter H
PH
Buschang
b  Dental student, Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX.
Mike
M
Ross
b  Dental student, Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX.
Steven G
SG
Shaw
c  Private Practice, Dallas, TX.
Doug
D
Crosby
d  Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Orthodontics, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX.
Phillip M
PM
Campbell
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy*; D003765:Models, Dental; D011446:Prospective Studies
Aligners; Objective Grading System; Occlusion; Prediction