Predictability of the gingival margin of the upper incisors with transparent aligners: a pilot retrospective study

Abstract

Purpose: In Dentistry, the demand for orthodontic treatment solely focused on improving the aesthetics of the smile is increasingly common. The gingival margin of the upper anterior sector is one of the keys to achieving a harmonious and aesthetic smile. Transparent aligners, and within them, the Invisalign® system, are one of the most used and demanded to achieve our aesthetic and functional goals, and the ClinCheck software is key to determining the final result of our treatment. This retrospective study aims to analyse the predictability of the gingival margin of the upper incisors designed in the ClinCheck, comparing it with real intraoral photographs of the patients. Materials and methods: Thirty-one patients between 16 and 59 years old was selected from the dental clinics of the Complutense University of Madrid and the position of the gingival margin in the ClinCheck was compared with its millimetre template by superimposing it on intraoral photographs taken with a millimetre ruler under the incisors in order to make the match between both. Results: In 71% of the upper incisors there were differences between the ClinCheck and the final photographs, being these differences statistically significant (p = 0.001). Conclusion: This is a pilot retrospective study with short-term results and a small sample size. It was determined that there are differences between the ClinCheck and the final results, but these differences are mainly ≤ 1 mm. We cannot trust the end of the ClinCheck 100%, but it is quite close to reality.