Many people use braces as a way of straightening their teeth and to improve their oral health. However, braces do not always fit, and can become loose easily – which inhibits their impact. But new research has shown that artificial intelligence can assist with straightening teeth, and provide much more accurate fittings for aligners. This research can help many people.
Anyone that has had braces in the past will know about the difficulties of them being placed correctly and comfortably. Moreover, they are often either too loose or too tight.
However, this could soon be a thing of the past. Researchers have developed a new tool which – with assistance from Artificial Intelligence (AI) – can predict how teeth will move to ensure that braces fit well and are comfortable [1].
This is very positive news, and could result in far more comfort for many with braces. It is also an example of AI’s growing influence on dental research.
Background
This research looked at braces. Braces are tools that help to straighten teeth. They are extremely effective, helping to enhance a person’s appearance, prevent tooth decay and dental injuries, and protect teeth from misaligning.
Braces are very common. For example, in the United States, around 4.5 million people wear braces at any one time [2]. It isn’t just children either that wear them, over 1 million adults wear them in the United States too.
Even though braces are incredibly common, it can be very challenging for orthodontists to fit them in a way that will result in comfort for their patients. Even when they do fit initially, teeth continue to shift slightly throughout a person’s life.
For those whose braces do not fit correctly, it can inhibit the aligning process and cause discomfort in eating and general mouth movement. Therefore, any way of improving the fitting process of aligners can be helpful.
The Research
The research was conducted by a team from the University of Copenhagen and technology company 3Shape. Their research has been published in the IEEE Access journal [1].
The team aimed to create a tool that could simulate how braces should fit on a patient to predict the exact shape that can best-straighten a patient’s teeth [1].
The research took place in Denmark, where around 30% of Danish youth up to the age of 15 wear braces [1].
A crucial part of the research process was to use scanned imagery of teeth and bone structures from human jaws. Then, AI used these to predict how braces should be designed.
The research also involved a process where the researchers mapped sets of human teeth using detailed CT scans of teeth and the periodontal ligaments – which are a connective tissues that holds teeth in the jaw [1].
This creates a precise digital imitation of the human jaw. This type of imitation is known as a “digital twin”, with the researchers building up a large database of “digital dental patients” [1]. The idea of the “digital patient” is relatively new in healthcare, but can certainly help with oral health.
So how will this work in practice? The computer model is capable of creating accurate 3D simulations of a patient’s jaw, which can be taken ahead of the alignment process.
Then, when the orthodontist is preparing the aligners, they can use the 3D simulation to match up aligners that should fit well. This should reduce the need for trial and error and repeated visits.
The simulation produced incredibly accurate results. Therefore, they can be applied to individual patients, with the 3D simulations capable of producing strong imitations of each patient’s teeth.
Author Comments
The researchers were pleased with the outcome of the research. Moreover, this research is also another example of how AI is impacting dentistry in a positive way.
Professor Kenny Erbelen of the University of Copenhagen, was one of the authors. Erbelen commented on the findings, stating that the “simulation is able to let an orthodontist know where braces should and shouldn’t exert pressure to straighten teeth” – thereby aiding the fitting process [3].
Furthermore, Erbelen pointed out that the current process involves “a great deal of trial and error”, but that the simulation can help to “reduce [this process] in the long run” [3].
Returning to the discussion surrounding the “digital dental patients”, the authors also pointed out that this could be extended to use for physical health. For example, the researchers argued this could be used for hip implants. This is an exciting additional development.
The researchers did caution that the tool would need to clear some regulatory hurdles before being offered by orthodontists. But they believe this is a strong possibility in the near future.
Overall, these findings are positive, and should result in improved treatment outcomes for patients going forward. Having more comfort with aligners is important, with this tool likely to help with this.
Thinking points…
1) Are you looking for aligners? If so, then it is useful to know that here at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental, we offer a range of alignment services, including Invisalign™. Our process involves an initial consultation, before the moulds are prepared for you. We also keep in regular contact with you to ensure that the aligners are working well and that you are happy with the progress of your teeth. If you are interested, we would love to hear from you soon – see our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca for more!
2) If you either have naturally straight teeth, or have recently finished using braces, remember to not get complacent! It is important to look after your teeth, which involves attending the dentist for a check-up on a regular basis. At an appointment, your dentist can look to see if there are any problems and provide treatment options if needed. We recommend booking an appointment now!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Xu, P., Gholamalizadeh, T., Moshfeghifar, F., Darkner, S., & Erleben, K. (2024). Deep-Learning-Based Segmentation of Individual Tooth and Bone With Periodontal Ligament Interface Details for Simulation Purposes. IEEE Access. 11. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3317512.
[2] Sadick, B. (2022). Getting the Facts Straight on Braces for Adults. Available: https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2022/adult-braces.html. Last accessed: 14th March 2024.
[3] Jensen, M. S. (2024). Straightening teeth? AI can help. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03-straightening-teeth-ai.html. Last accessed: 14th March 2024.
