Effects of Micro-osteoperforations on Lower Anterior Crowding Using Clear Aligners

Evaluation of the Effects of Micro-Osteoperforations on The Efficiency of Orthodontic Clear Aligner Therapy for Alleviating Mandibular Anterior Crowding: A Randomized Clinical Trial

this randomized controlled trial is designed to compare between clear aligner therapy in alleviating mandibular anterior crowding alone versus with micro-osteoperforations

This study is carried on in order to provide a method to enhance the predictability of clear aligner treatment. Loss of aligner tracking is one of the problems encountered during aligner treatment that results in increasing number of aligners required to complete treatment in addition to increasing the overall treatment time and cost. Micro-osteoperforation is a method for acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement and could be used to improve tooth movement and predictability of treatment with clear aligners. So this study is aimed to evaluate the efficiency of aligner treatment during alleviation of lower anterior crowding with and without micro-osteoperforations

Inclusion Criteria

1. Adult patients with age ranging from 18 to 35 years.
2. Healthy periodontium.
3. Presence of full set of permanent dentition excluding third molars.
4. Patients requiring non-extraction orthodontic treatment in the mandibular arch.
5. Mandibular anterior little's irregularity index from 3 to 6.
6. No spaces in the mandibular arch.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of retained primary teeth in the mandibular arch.
2. Patients having systemic diseases as (e.g., diabetes, osteoporosis) or taking medication that could affect tooth movement (e.g., bisphosphonates, anticancer drugs)
3. Vulnerable patients.
4. Smokers.
5. Pregnant female patients.