The purpose of this prospective clinical study is to comparatively evaluate the long-term stability of teeth, physiological tooth mobility, and effects on periodontal tissues of three different fixed lingual retainer materials used to prevent relapse following orthodontic treatment. A total of 80 participants whose orthodontic treatment is completed will be randomly and equally distributed into four groups as one control (n=20) and three study groups (n=20 each): Group 1 will receive CAD/CAM-fabricated 0.016-inch Nitinol wire; Group 2 will receive manually bent multi- strand 0.0215-inch stainless steel wire; and Group 3 will receive 0.030-inch stainless steel chain retainers. Control group will be 20 samples. Clinical and radiographic measurements will be performed at the day of debonding (T0) and at a 6-month follow-up (T1). Physiological tooth mobility will be measured objectively using a Periotest device. Relapse amounts will be assessed by superimposing intraoral digital scans via Nemocast software using Little's Irregularity Index, and the 6-month failure/breakage rates of the retainers will be recorded. The null hypothesis states that there is no statistically significant difference among the different retainer materials regarding tooth stability, relapse, and physiological mobility.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
80
T0 Mobility measurement with Periotest device after orthodontic treatment finished; before retainer simantation and after simantation. T1 Mobility measurement with Periotest device 6 months later; with retainer and without retainer.
T0 digital dental models will be taken with 3D scanner after orthodontic treatment finished; after retainer simantation. T1 digital dental models will be taken 6 months later with retainer. And Little irregularity index, arch length measurement will be performed.
Marmara University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
Tooth mobility
Tooth mobility will be assessed using the Periotest device. The device will be applied to the buccal surface of the tooth, and the Periotest value (PTV) will be recorded according to the manufacturer's instructions. Higher PTV values indicate greater tooth mobility. Measurements will be recorded as Periotest values (PTV).
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months
Little irregularity
Anterior dental irregularity will be assessed using Little's Irregularity Index, measured as the sum of the five linear displacements between the anatomic contact points of the mandibular anterior teeth, in millimeters (mm). This assessment will be performed on digital intraoral models by using Orthomodel (Orthomodel, İstanbul, Türkiye) software.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months
Arch length
Dental arch length will be assessed by measuring the linear distance from the midpoint between the central incisors to a line connecting the distal surfaces of the first permanent molars, in millimeters (mm). This assessment will be performed on digital intraoral models by using Orthomodel (Orthomodel, İstanbul, Türkiye) software.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months
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