A newly constructed computer program for three dimensional analysis of tooth movement

The aim of this study went along two parallel ways; the first was to develop a new method for three dimensional 3D imagining of the dental cast, and the second was to evaluate it’s accuracy in analyzing the different tooth movements presented by three different palatal expanders, (A) Nitanium Palatal Expander 2 (NPE2) , (B) Compound Palatal Bar (CPB) and (C) Quad Helix (QH).Thirty healthy Egyptian girls each exhibiting unilateral or bilateral posterior crossbite, and required palatal expansion as part of their comprehensive orthodontic treatment were selected and then they were equally divided into one of three groups in a random fashion. These groups were classified according to the type of expander utilized: Group A: Ten girls utilizing the Nitanium Palatal Expander 2 (NPE 2), Group B: Ten girls utilizing the Compound Palatal Bar (CPB), Group C: Ten girls utilizing the Quad Helix (QH). Each subject was clinically examined, and an orthodontic diagnostic study cast was recorded. Both extraoral and intraoral photography were taken. In addition to panoramic and occlusal radiographs, lateral and posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs were obtained. A 3D computer program was specially designed for more accurate evaluation of the dental effects induced by the three types of maxillary expanders, For the rotation and extrusion: ANOVA test showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the three expanders. CPB expander showed the statistically significant lowest mean followed by NPE2. QH expander showed the statistically significantly highest mean. Regarding the buccal tipping: the ANOVA test showed that; there was a statistically significant difference between the three expanders. There was no statistically significant difference between (NPE2) and (CPB) expanders which showed the statistically significantly lowest means. QH expander showed the statistically significantly highest mean. It was concluded that: One of the imperative outcomes exclusive to this study was the development of a new method for 3D imaging of dental casts other than CT and laser scanning. The reliability of generating 3D dental images using photographic imaging of the dental casts for 3D tooth movement analysis has a great research potential in orthodontics because of its ability to yield accurate and reproducible data. An accurate and comprehensive description of the orthodontic tooth movements in various clinical situations is best assessed three dimensionally. The NPE2, CPB, and QH expanders are capable of expanding the maxillary dentition and alveolar process and are equally capable of correcting posterior crossbite.