Comparison of Bracket Transfer Accuracy between Full Arch and Segmented Arch Indirect Bonding Trays Fabricated by Three-Dimensional Printing

Abstract

Objective: To assess and compare the accuracy between full arch and segmented arch trays of bracket placement for indirect bonding fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printing. Materials and Methods: Using digital software, orthodontic brackets were placed on scanned dental casts before full arch and segmented arch transfer trays were designed and printed by a stereolithographic 3D printer using elastic resin. The brackets were transfer onto the dental models by both types of transfer trays. Then, the final bracket positions were captured by a 3D model scanner on the dental models. The planned and actual model were superimposed to compare the differences of bracket positions. To analyze the data for significant differences between planned and actual bracket positions and between the two groups, nonparametric statistical analyses were used. Results: All significant differences in bracket position were less than 0.13 mm and 80% of these were less than 0.05 mm. No significant differences in bracket transfer accuracy between the directly printed full arch and segmented arch trays were found. Conclusion: For indirect bonding in orthodontics, the clinically discrepancies of less than 0.5 mm showed insignificant level which 3D printed full arch and segmented arch transfer trays display equal accuracy. The choice of design can be individually tailored for each patient depending on factors such as chairside time, isolation control, degree of crowding, and ease of placement.