Effect of the application of high-frequency mechanical vibration on tooth length concurrent with orthodontic treatment using clear aligners: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the possible change in teeth lengths as an indicator of orthodontically induced tooth root resorption (OITRR) after high-frequency mechanical vibration (HFV) treatment concurrent with Invisalign Smart Track® aligners as evaluated by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample, composed of 30 patients with an average age of 26 ± 11 years and Class I malocclusion with an initial anterior crowding ranging from 3 to 5 mm, was divided equally into two groups; Group I received adjunctive high-frequency mechanical vibration (HFV); Group II, the control, did not receive adjunctive mechanical treatment. The maxillary incisor's teeth lengths were measured using Mimics software before (T1) and after (T2) treatment. All data were analyzed using Student's t-test. Reliability testing was completed by randomly selecting 10 patients’ CBCTs, and their teeth lengths were measured twice by the same investigator over a 15-day interval and compared confirming intra-operator accuracy. RESULTS: The control group showed a statistically significant decrease in tooth lengths compared to the HFV group which showed nonstatistically significant change of tooth lengths. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with HFV showed minimum tooth length changes after treatment, which may indicate that HFV can reduce OITRR with treatment using clear aligners.