Digital Design of Laser-Sintered Metal-Printed Dento-Alveolar Anchorage Supporting Orthodontic Treatment

Abstract

In interceptive treatments in which impacted teeth (incisor or first permanent molar) should be included into the dental arch, the main clinical problem is the provision of an anchorage area and a suitable appliance. The use of a laser-sintered metal orthodontic printed dento-alveolar anchorage (PDaA), designed and printed digitally, has expanded the boundaries of orthodontic treatment, especially in its interceptive phase. Our aim is to describe a laser-sintered metal appliance to provide anchorage during orthodontic surgical traction of impacted teeth in the mixed dentition period. The presented clinical cases were treated with digitally projected and printed metal PDaA. In the described clinical cases, individually designed anchorage systems were used. They were created through design software and, after that, the metal appliances were printed. The devices were placed in the oral area and did not disturb the aesthetics of the patient. The advantages of individual designed metal PDaA allow the accommodation of the morphology of the hard palate and alveolar bone. This makes the PDaA comfortable for the patient and rigid enough to perform orthodontic traction at the same time. The PDaA is applicable in mixed dentition and, in complicated clinical cases, in permanent dentition. Their individuality allows for segmental treatments or treatments in cases requiring additional anchorage further away from the active force.