Objective: Owing to the availability of 3D software, scanners, and printers, clinicians are encouraged to produce in-office aligners. Recently, a new directprinting resin (Tera Harz TC-85DAC) has been introduced. Studies on its mechanical characteristics and biological effects have been published; however, evidence on its efficacy in orthodontic treatment remains scarce. This pilot study aimed to investigate the accuracy of teeth movement achieved with directprinted aligners. Methods: Seventeen patients (eight males and nine females) with a mean age of 27.67 ± 8.95 years, presenting with dental rotations < 30° and spaces/crowding < 5 mm, were recruited for this study. The teeth movement was planned starting from a T0 digital dental cast. The 3D direct-printed aligners were produced using Tera Harz TC-85DAC resin. Once the orthodontic treatment was completed, a final digital cast was obtained (T1). The planned teeth positions were then superimposed onto the T0 and T1 digital models.The differences between the programmed movements and the achieved overall torque, tip, rotation, and transverse dimensions were assessed using the paired t test or Wilcoxon’s signed rank test. Results: The overall accuracies for torque, tip, and rotation were 67.6%, 64.2%, and 72.0%, respectively. The accuracy of the change in transverse diameter was 99.6%. Conclusions Within the limits of the present pilot study (difficulties with abnormally shaped teeth and use of attachments), it can be concluded that 3D printed aligners can be successfully printed in-house and utilized for mildly crowded cases, with a comparable accuracy of tooth movement to that of other aligners.

Objective: This prospective study evaluated the effectiveness of clear aligner treatment (CAT) in achieving dentoalveolar upper arch expansion in patients with mixed dentition and transverse maxillary deficiency. Methods: Forty patients with mixed dentition and a transverse discrepancy of ≤ 5 mm were treated using clear aligners. Pre- and post-treatment digital dental models were measured using specific landmarks and compared with the programmed expansion in the virtual treatment plan. Statistical analyses included the inter-class correlation coefficient to evaluate inter-rater reliability. A paired t test was employed to compare pre- and post-treatment values and to examine the significance of the changes. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relationship between the prescribed and observed measurements, stratified by inter-dental measurements (deciduous canines, first deciduous molars, and permanent molars, at cusp and gingival levels). Results: Excellent measurement reproducibility was observed. The accuracy of dentoalveolar maxillary arch expansion varied among different tooth regions. The inter-canine accuracy was 87.7% at the cusp level and 82.7% at the gingival level. The inter-first deciduous molars exhibited accuracies of 84.9% (cusp level) and 80.5% (gingival level). The inter-first molars showed accuracies of 77.8% (cusp level) and 67.9% (gingival level). Significant differences were observed between the planned and obtained measurements for specific tooth regions. Conclusions CAT demonstrated reliable predictability in achieving dentoalveolar expansion of the maxillary arch in patients with mixed dentition. A higher accuracy was observed in the anterior region than in the posterior region. These findings suggest that CAT could be an effective option for treating transverse maxillary deficiencies in patients with mixed dentition with moderate inter-arch transverse discrepancies, considering tooth-specific predictability differences.

Objective: This prospective study evaluated the effectiveness of clear aligner treatment (CAT) in achieving dentoalveolar upper arch expansion in patients with mixed dentition and transverse maxillary deficiency. Methods: Forty patients with mixed dentition and a transverse discrepancy of ≤ 5 mm were treated using clear aligners. Pre- and post-treatment digital dental models were measured using specific landmarks and compared with the programmed expansion in the virtual treatment plan. Statistical analyses included the inter-class correlation coefficient to evaluate inter-rater reliability. A paired t test was employed to compare pre- and post-treatment values and to examine the significance of the changes. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relationship between the prescribed and observed measurements, stratified by inter-dental measurements (deciduous canines, first deciduous molars, and permanent molars, at cusp and gingival levels). Results: Excellent measurement reproducibility was observed. The accuracy of dentoalveolar maxillary arch expansion varied among different tooth regions. The inter-canine accuracy was 87.7% at the cusp level and 82.7% at the gingival level. The inter-first deciduous molars exhibited accuracies of 84.9% (cusp level) and 80.5% (gingival level). The inter-first molars showed accuracies of 77.8% (cusp level) and 67.9% (gingival level). Significant differences were observed between the planned and obtained measurements for specific tooth regions. Conclusions CAT demonstrated reliable predictability in achieving dentoalveolar expansion of the maxillary arch in patients with mixed dentition. A higher accuracy was observed in the anterior region than in the posterior region. These findings suggest that CAT could be an effective option for treating transverse maxillary deficiencies in patients with mixed dentition with moderate inter-arch transverse discrepancies, considering tooth-specific predictability differences.

Objective: This prospective study evaluated the effectiveness of clear aligner treatment (CAT) in achieving dentoalveolar upper arch expansion in patients with mixed dentition and transverse maxillary deficiency. Methods: Forty patients with mixed dentition and a transverse discrepancy of ≤ 5 mm were treated using clear aligners. Pre- and post-treatment digital dental models were measured using specific landmarks and compared with the programmed expansion in the virtual treatment plan. Statistical analyses included the inter-class correlation coefficient to evaluate inter-rater reliability. A paired t test was employed to compare pre- and post-treatment values and to examine the significance of the changes. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relationship between the prescribed and observed measurements, stratified by inter-dental measurements (deciduous canines, first deciduous molars, and permanent molars, at cusp and gingival levels). Results: Excellent measurement reproducibility was observed. The accuracy of dentoalveolar maxillary arch expansion varied among different tooth regions. The inter-canine accuracy was 87.7% at the cusp level and 82.7% at the gingival level. The inter-first deciduous molars exhibited accuracies of 84.9% (cusp level) and 80.5% (gingival level). The inter-first molars showed accuracies of 77.8% (cusp level) and 67.9% (gingival level). Significant differences were observed between the planned and obtained measurements for specific tooth regions. Conclusions CAT demonstrated reliable predictability in achieving dentoalveolar expansion of the maxillary arch in patients with mixed dentition. A higher accuracy was observed in the anterior region than in the posterior region. These findings suggest that CAT could be an effective option for treating transverse maxillary deficiencies in patients with mixed dentition with moderate inter-arch transverse discrepancies, considering tooth-specific predictability differences.

Objective: This prospective study evaluated the effectiveness of clear aligner treatment (CAT) in achieving dentoalveolar upper arch expansion in patients with mixed dentition and transverse maxillary deficiency. Methods: Forty patients with mixed dentition and a transverse discrepancy of ≤ 5 mm were treated using clear aligners. Pre- and post-treatment digital dental models were measured using specific landmarks and compared with the programmed expansion in the virtual treatment plan. Statistical analyses included the inter-class correlation coefficient to evaluate inter-rater reliability. A paired t test was employed to compare pre- and post-treatment values and to examine the significance of the changes. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relationship between the prescribed and observed measurements, stratified by inter-dental measurements (deciduous canines, first deciduous molars, and permanent molars, at cusp and gingival levels). Results: Excellent measurement reproducibility was observed. The accuracy of dentoalveolar maxillary arch expansion varied among different tooth regions. The inter-canine accuracy was 87.7% at the cusp level and 82.7% at the gingival level. The inter-first deciduous molars exhibited accuracies of 84.9% (cusp level) and 80.5% (gingival level). The inter-first molars showed accuracies of 77.8% (cusp level) and 67.9% (gingival level). Significant differences were observed between the planned and obtained measurements for specific tooth regions. Conclusions CAT demonstrated reliable predictability in achieving dentoalveolar expansion of the maxillary arch in patients with mixed dentition. A higher accuracy was observed in the anterior region than in the posterior region. These findings suggest that CAT could be an effective option for treating transverse maxillary deficiencies in patients with mixed dentition with moderate inter-arch transverse discrepancies, considering tooth-specific predictability differences.

Objective: This prospective study evaluated the effectiveness of clear aligner treatment (CAT) in achieving dentoalveolar upper arch expansion in patients with mixed dentition and transverse maxillary deficiency. Methods: Forty patients with mixed dentition and a transverse discrepancy of ≤ 5 mm were treated using clear aligners. Pre- and post-treatment digital dental models were measured using specific landmarks and compared with the programmed expansion in the virtual treatment plan. Statistical analyses included the inter-class correlation coefficient to evaluate inter-rater reliability. A paired t test was employed to compare pre- and post-treatment values and to examine the significance of the changes. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relationship between the prescribed and observed measurements, stratified by inter-dental measurements (deciduous canines, first deciduous molars, and permanent molars, at cusp and gingival levels). Results: Excellent measurement reproducibility was observed. The accuracy of dentoalveolar maxillary arch expansion varied among different tooth regions. The inter-canine accuracy was 87.7% at the cusp level and 82.7% at the gingival level. The inter-first deciduous molars exhibited accuracies of 84.9% (cusp level) and 80.5% (gingival level). The inter-first molars showed accuracies of 77.8% (cusp level) and 67.9% (gingival level). Significant differences were observed between the planned and obtained measurements for specific tooth regions. Conclusions CAT demonstrated reliable predictability in achieving dentoalveolar expansion of the maxillary arch in patients with mixed dentition. A higher accuracy was observed in the anterior region than in the posterior region. These findings suggest that CAT could be an effective option for treating transverse maxillary deficiencies in patients with mixed dentition with moderate inter-arch transverse discrepancies, considering tooth-specific predictability differences.