Successful orthodontic treatment is the one in which the objectives of treatment are attained and maintained over the years. In order to achieve this, an individual and extensive diagnosis and treatment plan should be done. This is carried out based on appropriate records, consisting of radiographs, photographs and study models. Dental models play an important role in this, being crucial to assess intercanine and intermolar widths, space availability, irregularity index, Bolton analysis, overbite, overjet, tooth size and arch length [1] [2]. However, plaster models are subject to loss, fracture, and degradation; besides being difficult to share. Advancements in virtual technologies have increased the evaluation possibilities using digital models. They can be obtained from dental casts or impressions with a desktop scanner, or digitalized directly from the patients’ teeth using an intraoral scanner, eliminating the conventional impression step. These contemporary acquisition methods are adequate for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

Careful evaluation of the orthodontic tooth movement is crucial for understanding the dental biomechanics. The superimposition of serial cephalograms has been widely used for dentoskeletal evaluation in orthodontics. However, cephalometric superimpositions have several limitations, including tracing errors, radiation exposure, and difficulties in evaluating two-dimensional (2D) projection of three-dimensional (3D) structures. Researchers are investigating the accuracy of measurements using digital models through different softwares comparing the results to plaster models, without significant differences among them [1] - [9]. One advantage of the digital models is the possibility of superimposing them. Using specific software programs available for image processing of stereolithography (.stl) files, dental casts can also be superimposed at different treatment stages. Thus, the Dentist can evaluate dental movement and skeletal changes in the 3 dimensions (x, y, z), so that the professional may see if the results are compatible with the original planning, any side effects and compare different orthodontic mechanics, among other reasons [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]. This kind of evaluation requires the use of stable structures as references for superimposition, which according to the literature should be the first three palatal rugae and the area of the palatal vault [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]. However, a collection of thousands of points coordinated in a 3D space and oriented as polygon meshes are obtained after scanning when questions can be raised, such as: can the dimensional surfaces of the digital models be influenced by a different positioning of the dental casts during the scanning process? Can these .stl files be used with accuracy for registration and superimposition of digital models?

The aims of this study were to assess and compare the linear measurements in digital models, scanned at four different angulations, to compare four methods of superimposing digital models.

Sample Selection

This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) (CAAE: 42856915.1.0000.5336). The sample of this study comprised of 43 upper dental casts of young patients (27 female, 16 male) obtained at the start of orthodontic treatment, as described in Table 1. The sample size was calculated before the study. It was estimated that a sample size of 43 dental models would be necessary to obtain a statistical power of 95%.

Procedures Description

The dental casts were scanned using a 3D desktop scanner R700 (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark), creating virtual dental models. The images were processed and evaluated using OrthoAnalyzer Software (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark). Each dental model was acquired at a different angulation (0, 5, 10 and 15 degrees in relation to the occlusal plane) divided in 4 groups (named as 0, 5, 10 and 15). This model angulation was standardized with acrylic platforms produced with the mentioned angulations, in which the models were positioned during the scanning process (Figure 1). The angulations of 0 to 15 degrees were selected for covering most malocclusions, involving an asymmetric or canted occlusal plane [16].

Linear Measurements Definition

A total of 18 linear measurements were made to evaluate the central and the lateral parts of the models (Table 2, Figure 2). Besides that, the four groups were compared to detect possible alterations or distortions due to models different angulations during the scanning process.

Evaluation of the Superimposition Methods

The scanned 0 and 15 degrees .stl files, representing the original and the most reoriented model, were superimposed using four overlapping methods (Figure 3). The digital model superimposition was performed using three landmarks (Methods 1 and 2); one landmark + surface (Method 3); and three landmarks + surface (Method 4) (Table 3). In the present study, the palatal rugae were chosen as the central points, once they are considered stable references in the literature [1] [11] [15]. Other selected points were located in the upper models lateral

regions, as the right canine (cusp tip), the left second premolar (buccal cusp tip) and the right first molar (mesial buccal cusp tip) (Figure 3(C) and Figure 3(D)). These points were used to superimpose the digital models in Methods 1 and 2. In Methods 3 and 4, apart from the central points, a surface was selected to superimpose the digital models. This surface was determined by a triangle formed by a straight line connecting the mesial surface of the right and left first molars,

plus, a line connecting the most posterior point of the incisive papilla to the limit of the line between the right and left first molars (Figure 3(E) and Figure 3(F)). Then, a rectangular area was delineated inside this triangle whose lateral limits were 4 mm to each side of the palatine raphe, using the posterior limit of the triangle. From this straight line, a 90 degrees angle was formed at both lateral limits. The anterior limit of the rectangle was where the right and left lateral limits of the triangle and the rectangle met. The most medial point of the first three right and left palatal rugae and a part of the palatal vault were located in this area. The selected surface used for superimposing the models is shown in red, in Figure 3(F).

Color maps were used to evaluate the reproducibility of the superimpositions, performed by overlapping each of the 43 models scanned at 0 and 15 degrees. The best fit of the models was evaluated at 0.3 mm. High reproducibility (A) was considered when the difference ranged from −0.3 mm to 0.3 mm, and slight reproducibility (B) when the difference was above or below this range (Figure 3(G) and Figure 3(H), respectively). Hence, the color maps were calibrated at 0.3 mm, positive and negative. So, dental and palatal surface variance was represented by color progression from blue to purple when the difference was negative, and from yellow to dark red when the difference was positive.

Statistical Analysis

Double assessments of all measures, in a two-week interval, were done by the same examiner (B.B.), previously trained. Intra-observer reliability and reproducibility were evaluated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of the data, which showed a non-normal distribution. Hence, nonparametric tests were applied. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the median values of the measurements of groups. Kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the agreement on the superimposition of the digital models at 0 and 15 degrees. All statistical analyses were carried out with R version 3.4.1 (R Core Team 2017, Vienna, Austria).

Reproducibility as well as reliability of the observer showed excellent agreement (ICC > 0.921). ICC to compare the groups showed near perfect correlation (ICC > 0.962).

All linear measurements are presented in Table 4. By Kruskal-Wallis test none of the linear measurements presented statistical difference. The median differences between the groups (0, 5, 10 and 15) ranged from 0.03 mm to 0.39 mm.

Color maps calibrated to detect differences up to 0.3 mm were used to compare the model superimposition methods. Method 1 (central landmarks) showed 3 superimpositions with a high correlation and 40 with a slight correlation. Method 2 (lateral landmarks) showed 36 superimpositions with a high correlation and 7 with a slight correlation. Method 3 (surface + one landmark) and 4 (surface + three landmarks) showed 39 superimpositions with a high correlation and

only 4 with a slight correlation, demonstrating excellent accuracy for model superimposition (Table 5).

The agreement evaluation using Kappa coefficient among the superimposition methods showed high reproducibility between Methods 3 - 4 and a substantial agreement between Methods 2 - 3 and 2 - 4. Method 1 showed a fair agreement with Method 2, and a slight agreement with Methods 3 and 4, as observed in Table 6.

Different software programs are able to evaluate digital models during orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, with recent technological advances in dentistry [1] - [8]. Variations lower than 0.5 mm between plaster and digital models are considered clinically acceptable [2] [3] [4] [5] [16] [17] [18]. However, Noh et al. [19] showed that discrepancies from 0.27 to 0.33 mm could lead to errors in the manufacturing of orthodontic appliances and surgical guides. The present study evaluated the hypothesis that the acquisition of the same models scanned at different angulations could show alterations, with a variation of the linear measurements. In addition, the 15 degrees was chosen because, according to Birgfeld et al. [16] this level of angulation comprises most of the malocclusion

(A) High reproducibility; (B) Slight reproducibility.

Significant (p < 0.05)*; Kappa coefficient**.

cases with the cant of the occlusal plane, as well as physical problems during the plaster models trimming or scanning process. Eighteen landmarks in both central and lateral parts of the model were selected for measurements so that any possible distortion would be detected. The results of the linear measurements showed excellent agreement (Table 6), with an average difference among the groups ranging from 0.03 mm to 0.39 mm. A difference higher than 0.33 at the rugae measures was observed (DM3 and DL1) which could cause a poor adaptation of the orthodontic aligners and the surgical guides. Although when comparing pre and post treatment results (follow-up), these differences might not be considered significant. This means that the digital models scanned at angulations between 0 and 15 degrees did not show significant alterations to the point of causing changes in evaluations such as diagnosis and treatment planning, or comparisons between different phases of the orthodontic treatment.

Four methods of superimposition were used to evaluate the correlation between the digital models scanned at 0 and 15 degrees (original and reoriented models) (Figure 3). Methods 3 (surface + one landmark) and 4 (surface + three landmarks) resulted in more than 90% of correlation between the surfaces with the color maps calibrated at 0.3 mm. This high correlation is probably because they presented a selected surface area (surface-to-surface matching), besides the points, to assist in the superimposition. Method 2 (three lateral landmarks) was selected to test the overlapping with three distant points. This method presented more than 83% of correlation, most likely due to the greater distance among the points, decreasing the rotational error at the moment of the superimposition, compared to Method 1. There was a slight correlation in all superimpositions in Method 1 (three central landmarks), where the three points were selected near each other. This could have happened because the points were too close and did not have a surface to assist with the superimposition. So, there was a rotational error when the superimposition was performed, which is in agreement with Chen et al. [11] and Jang et al. [15], proving this method to be unreliable for superimposition purposes (Table 5). The agreement evaluation by Kappa coefficient among the superimposition methods showed that the two most accurate methods were 3 and 4. They also presented the highest correlation among them, indicating the need of a surface-to-surface matching to achieve an almost perfect superimposition (Table 6).

Areas that suffer the least modification during orthodontic treatment should be used to perform accurate model superimposition. Until the present moment, the most stable anatomic structures in the maxilla are considered to be the first three palatal rugae for a short period of time difference [11] [15] [20] [21]. After 40 years, these structures are lower than acceptable for overlapping [21].

Changes in palatal shape may be a source of error in the 3D superimposition method [12] depending on the regions selected for overlapping. What should determine the landmarks choice to superimpose are the regions of the palate that suffer the least modification with dental movement during treatment. Standardizing the superimposition in the present study, apart from using the same model, with no dental modification, an area in the center of the palate was selected, including the most medial points of the first three palatal rugae on both sides and a part of the palatal vault. All these reference landmarks have been considered stable until now; although they should be used carefully since new studies are being conducted, with new technologies that can change some existing concepts.

Digital model studies are interesting and becoming the gold standard as technology is becoming accessible to all. Diagnoses, treatment planning and orthodontic result evaluation processes are nowadays mostly virtual. One of the methods to access the orthodontic results is the superimposition. In the orthodontic literature there are different kinds of superimposition, however, a question that has come up lately is: is the appropriate method being used? According to this study, the ideal superimposition would be using a surface and a point simultaneously. Another important question is the model angulation during 3D scanning—can the dimensional surfaces of the digital models be influenced by a different positioning of the dental casts during the scanning process? This research showed that scanned models with angulations between 0˚ and 15˚ did not present a significant difference in the obtained measurements. However, further researches are needed to evaluate stable regions to perform superimposition of digital models with accuracy, on specific situations and procedures.

The scanning angulations of digital models did not affect the linear measurements and superimpositions.

The most reliable digital model superimposition methods were the ones using surface and landmarks simultaneously.

This study was financed in part by the Coordenaçãode Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—FinanceCode 001.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Barbo, B.N., Azeredo, F. and de Menezes, L.M. (2020) Digital Models: Comparison of Scanning Angulations and Superimposition. Open Journal of Stomatology, 10, 218-229. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojst.2020.108021