A Comparison of Two Finite Element Analysis Approaches for Studying Anterior Teeth Movement Under Clear Aligner Therapy

This study aimed to investigate the movement of upper anterior teeth during clear aligner treatment using the finite element method, comparing two approaches: the interference fit method and the initial stress method. The study found that the results of the vector plot displacement in both the crown and root regions showed that the two methods caused the anchorage teeth to move in different directions, but the movement in the activated teeth was consistent. and when comparing the displacement values, it was found that smaller teeth experienced greater movement than larger teeth. As for the activated tooth, the tooth movement across the methods was consistent, with the displacement values showing little difference. The study also indicated that the tooth movement observed during clear aligner treatment aligns with clinical issues, particularly anchorage loss, which is commonly encountered during orthodontic treatment.