Dental Asia May/June 2022

BEHIND THE SCENES
Validating 3D-printed direct bonded
orthodontic appliances: Planning,
bonding, and the first five months of treatment
This case study documents a phased hybrid orthodontic treatment plan,
regulatory approval for this application is currently valid only in the US.
Subsequent papers will document the transition from fixed appliances to
clear aligners and the advantages of 3D printing in modern orthodontics.
By Dr Tom Shannon
INTRODUCTION
Advances in digital case planning, design,
and 3D printing continue to transform
orthodontic practice. In 2020, Braces
On Demand introduced a 510(K)-cleared
platform for clinicians to design, order,
and even fabricate their brackets and
other direct bonded appliances in-office.
Using advanced biocompatible materials
and 3D printing, they introduced a
solution for on-demand manufacturing of
orthodontic appliances.
Fig. 1a
To see these advanced concepts in action,
a clinical case was carried out. The focus
consists of a phased orthodontic hybrid
treatment:
• Phase I - Fixed orthodontic treatment
via 3D-printed brackets designed and
ordered through the Braces On Demand
platform and printed with the Form 3B
and Denture Teeth Resin.
• Phase II - Clear aligner treatment
produced by thermoformed sheets upon
3D-printed models that were fabricated
with the Form 3B and Draft Resin. A
final retainer will be produced at the
end of the treatment via this technique
as well.
HISTORY AND CLINICAL EXAMINATION
A healthy 12-year-old female patient
presented for a consultation with the
Two months of upper orthodontic alignment with Braces On Demand appliances
chief complaint: “Please align my
TREATMENT PLAN
crooked top right tooth and also fix my A phased hybrid orthodontic treatment
overbite.”
plan was chosen, utilising fixed appliances,
followed by clear aligner treatment. This
The patient presented with a missing paper describes the first phase of the
LR2, buccally impacted UR3, canted
treatment with fixed appliances that were
maxilla, and moderate upper and mild fabricated in-office with 3D printing.
lower crowding. She also has an excessive
curve of Spee and a curve of Wilson.
The bracket system chosen was the Braces
This patient also had no nasal breathing On Demand’s aesthetic twin, Shade B1. This
or sleep concerns. Patient and parent bracket matched the shade of this patient’s
consent was obtained before starting and teeth and will maximise the initial rotational
for case presentation purposes.
and levelling benefits of bonded braces.
50 DENTAL ASIA MAY / JUNE 2022