Efficacy of Elastodontic Devices vs. Clear Aligners in Lower Intercanine Distance Changes Assessed by Computer-Aided Evaluation

Background: This pilot study aimed to verify the efficacy of two orthodontic appliances in relation to changes in the lower intercanine distance in growing patients. Methods: Twenty patients aged 10–16 years were enrolled in the study and separated into test and control groups. The test group includ...

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Main Authors: Eleonora Ortu, Davide Pietropaoli, Samuele Cova, Mario Giannoni, Annalisa Monaco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Oral
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6373/3/1/3
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author Eleonora Ortu
Davide Pietropaoli
Samuele Cova
Mario Giannoni
Annalisa Monaco
author_facet Eleonora Ortu
Davide Pietropaoli
Samuele Cova
Mario Giannoni
Annalisa Monaco
author_sort Eleonora Ortu
collection DOAJ
description Background: This pilot study aimed to verify the efficacy of two orthodontic appliances in relation to changes in the lower intercanine distance in growing patients. Methods: Twenty patients aged 10–16 years were enrolled in the study and separated into test and control groups. The test group included 10 patients (5 males, 5 females; mean age, 10.4 ± 1.57 years) who were treated with an elastodontic device. The control group included 10 patients (5 males, 5 females; mean age 10.8 ± 1.53 years) who were treated with clear aligners. The two groups exhibited the same orthodontic features. The orthodontic criteria were: skeletal class I relationship, molar class I relationship, and presence of lower crowding. Patients were evaluated as having mild or moderate crowding according to the Daniels and Richmond index. The lower intercanine distance was evaluated at three timepoints via intraoral scans: T0 (before starting therapy), T1 (after six months), and T2 (after 1 year). Data were analyzed using a nonparametric approach via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at T0, T1, or T2 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusions: elastodontic devices and clear aligners can successfully help the orthodontist conduct lower arch expansion treatment. These appliances are comfortable to wear, simple to clean every day, and reduce the number of dentist appointments. Finally, but not of least importance, these devices have allowed dentists to continue orthodontic treatments during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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spelling doaj.art-ef40a24c221c41e69cbc9f9fad5238e62023-11-17T13:07:50ZengMDPI AGOral2673-63732023-01-0131313710.3390/oral3010003Efficacy of Elastodontic Devices vs. Clear Aligners in Lower Intercanine Distance Changes Assessed by Computer-Aided EvaluationEleonora Ortu0Davide Pietropaoli1Samuele Cova2Mario Giannoni3Annalisa Monaco4Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Scienze della Salute e Dell’Ambiente, University of L’Aquila, P.le Salvatore Tommasi, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Scienze della Salute e Dell’Ambiente, University of L’Aquila, P.le Salvatore Tommasi, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyIndependent Researcher, 38023 Trento, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Scienze della Salute e Dell’Ambiente, University of L’Aquila, P.le Salvatore Tommasi, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Scienze della Salute e Dell’Ambiente, University of L’Aquila, P.le Salvatore Tommasi, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyBackground: This pilot study aimed to verify the efficacy of two orthodontic appliances in relation to changes in the lower intercanine distance in growing patients. Methods: Twenty patients aged 10–16 years were enrolled in the study and separated into test and control groups. The test group included 10 patients (5 males, 5 females; mean age, 10.4 ± 1.57 years) who were treated with an elastodontic device. The control group included 10 patients (5 males, 5 females; mean age 10.8 ± 1.53 years) who were treated with clear aligners. The two groups exhibited the same orthodontic features. The orthodontic criteria were: skeletal class I relationship, molar class I relationship, and presence of lower crowding. Patients were evaluated as having mild or moderate crowding according to the Daniels and Richmond index. The lower intercanine distance was evaluated at three timepoints via intraoral scans: T0 (before starting therapy), T1 (after six months), and T2 (after 1 year). Data were analyzed using a nonparametric approach via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at T0, T1, or T2 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusions: elastodontic devices and clear aligners can successfully help the orthodontist conduct lower arch expansion treatment. These appliances are comfortable to wear, simple to clean every day, and reduce the number of dentist appointments. Finally, but not of least importance, these devices have allowed dentists to continue orthodontic treatments during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6373/3/1/3orthodonticselastodontic deviceclear alignersdental crowding
spellingShingle Eleonora Ortu
Davide Pietropaoli
Samuele Cova
Mario Giannoni
Annalisa Monaco
Efficacy of Elastodontic Devices vs. Clear Aligners in Lower Intercanine Distance Changes Assessed by Computer-Aided Evaluation
Oral
orthodontics
elastodontic device
clear aligners
dental crowding
title Efficacy of Elastodontic Devices vs. Clear Aligners in Lower Intercanine Distance Changes Assessed by Computer-Aided Evaluation
title_full Efficacy of Elastodontic Devices vs. Clear Aligners in Lower Intercanine Distance Changes Assessed by Computer-Aided Evaluation
title_fullStr Efficacy of Elastodontic Devices vs. Clear Aligners in Lower Intercanine Distance Changes Assessed by Computer-Aided Evaluation
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of Elastodontic Devices vs. Clear Aligners in Lower Intercanine Distance Changes Assessed by Computer-Aided Evaluation
title_short Efficacy of Elastodontic Devices vs. Clear Aligners in Lower Intercanine Distance Changes Assessed by Computer-Aided Evaluation
title_sort efficacy of elastodontic devices vs clear aligners in lower intercanine distance changes assessed by computer aided evaluation
topic orthodontics
elastodontic device
clear aligners
dental crowding
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6373/3/1/3
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