Title
3D predictability assessment of clear aligners versus fixed appliances using CBCT
Authors
Subash Chandra Nayak1,*, Madhu Bhaskar Bommasani2, N. V Uday Sagar Maddula2, V. V. Charan Teja2, S. J Siddardha2, Vijay Srikrishna Varma Rudraraju2, Rubeena Naaz3 & Md Kafeel Ahmed4
Affiliation
1Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Hi-Tech Dental College and Hospital, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India; 2Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, St. Joseph Dental College & Hospital, Duggirala, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India; 3Private Practitioner, Dental Surgeon, SRK Dental Clinic, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; 4Department of Periodontology and Implantology, MNR Dental College and Hospital, Sangareddy, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; *Corresponding author
Subash Chandra Nayak - E-mail: drsubashn@gmail.com
Madhu Bhaskar Bommasani - E-mail: b.madhubhaskar2@gmail.com
N. V Uday Sagar Maddula -E-mail: udaysagarmnv@gmail.com
V. V. Charan Teja - E-mail: drcharanorthodontist@gmail.com
S. J. Siddardha - E-mail: siddardhsj07@gmail.com
Vijay Srikrishna Varma Rudraraju - E-mail: rvskvarma97@gmail.com
Rubeena Naaz - E-mail: rubeenakhan412@gmail.com
Md Kafeel Ahmed - E-mail: drkafeelsohar@gmail.com
Article Type
Research Article
Date
Received April 1, 2026; Revised April 30, 2026; Accepted April 30, 2026, Published April 30, 2026
Abstract
Predictability of orthodontic tooth movement varies between clear aligners and fixed appliances, yet three-dimensional comparative evidence remains limited for complex cases. This prospective study randomized 60 complex orthodontic patients to clear aligners (n=30) or fixed appliances (n=30), using baseline/planned/post-treatment CBCT superimposition to quantify accuracy across three planes of space. Clear aligners excelled in incisor torque (87.3% versus 82.2%, p=0.001) and anterior intrusion (91.2% versus 82.8%, p=0.002), while fixed appliances were superior for canine/premolar rotation (88.9% versus 78.6%, p=0.001) and anterior extrusion (85.7% versus 76.2%, p=0.004). Overall treatment predictability was comparable (clear aligners 84.6±7.8% versus fixed 82.3±8.9%, p=0.286), revealing modality-specific strengths for targeted movements. This data help in orthodontic planning by establishing CBCT-based evidence for modality selection based on movement type, enhancing precision in complex cases.
Keywords
Clear aligners, fixed appliances, cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT), three-dimensional analysis, orthodontic predictability, tooth movement, treatment planning
Citation
Nayak et al. Bioinformation 22(4): 2219-2223 (2026)
Edited by
Vini Mehta
ISSN
0973-2063
Publisher
License
This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. This is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
