Effects of different intrusion patterns during anterior teeth retraction using clear aligners in extraction cases: an iterative finite element analysis

Background Overtreatment design of clear aligner treatment (CAT) in extraction cases is currently primarily based on the clinical experience of orthodontists and is not supported by robust evidence on the underlying biomechanics. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical effects of overtreatment strategies involving different maxillary anterior teeth intrusion patterns during anterior teeth retraction by CAT in extraction cases.Materials and methods A finite element model of the maxillary dentition with the first premolar extracted was constructed. A loading method of clear aligners (CAs) based on the initial state field was proposed. The iterative method was used to simulate the long-term orthodontic tooth movement under the mechanical load exerted by the CAs. Three groups of CAs were utilized for anterior teeth retraction (G0: control group; G1: incisors intrusion group; G2: anterior teeth intrusion group). Tooth displacement and occlusal plane rotation tendency were analyzed.Results In G0, CAT caused lingual tipping and extrusion of the incisors, distal tipping and extrusion of the canines, mesial tipping, and intrusion of the posterior teeth. In G1, the incisors showed minimal extrusion, whereas the canines showed increased extrusion and distal tipping tendency. G2 showed the smallest degree of posterior occlusal plane angle rotation, while the inclination tendency of the canines and second premolars decreased.Conclusion 1. In CAT, tooth displacement tendency may change with increased wear time. 2. During anterior teeth retraction, the incisor intrusion pattern can provide effective vertical control for the lateral incisors but has little effect on the central incisors. Anterior teeth intrusion patterns can alleviate the inclination of canines and second premolars, resulting in partial relief of the roller-coaster effect.