1. Introduction
In orthodontics, en masse retraction, in which the first premolars are extracted, and an orthodontic mini-screw (OMS) is used as an anchor to pull all the anterior teeth posteriorly at once to close the extraction space, is a very common treatment for those with forward protrusion or crowding. However, studies on tooth movement patterns according to the placement position of the OMS and the height of the anterior retraction hook (ARH) are limited [
1,
2,
3,
4].
In recent studies, tooth movement for multiple teeth connected with orthodontic wire was analyzed as a finite element, with most studies limited to the initial response [
1,
2,
3]. In particular, finite element studies of continuous archwire make it difficult to accurately assess tooth movement because the initial response includes not only tooth movement but also displacement due to elastic deformation of the archwire, teeth, and alveolar bone. In addition, it does not include the changes in the force system that occur as the extraction space closes, making it difficult to accurately assess teeth movement.
To minimize such problems, Kojima and Fukui [
5] and Chae et al. [
6] have analyzed continuous tooth movement of maxillary teeth in a non-extraction model using finite element analysis (FEA). However, there are still few studies on continuous tooth movement along a continuous arch wire in the extraction model [
7,
8,
9]. As an alternative to this, in a study of maxillary dentition by Song et al. [
10], a model before the extraction space was closed (M1) and a model with the extraction space almost closed (M2) were produced to perform a finite element study on initial tooth movement at each stage. Their results showed that the pattern of tooth movement at the initial stage of extraction was different from the pattern of movement when the extraction space was closed. Therefore, a treatment plan based on the initial condition may not be appropriate.
In recent FEA, a continuous FEA method has been actively applied to overcome these limitations [
5,
6,
7,
8,
9]. In the present study, effects of OMS placement position and ARH length on tooth movement during en masse retraction in a model in which the maxillary first premolar was extracted were analyzed through continuous FEA to help us determine suitable OMS placement position and ARH length in clinical practice.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Finite Element Modeling
For the finite element tooth model, a normal occlusion adult tooth model (Model-i21D-400G, Nissin Dental Products
®, Kyoto, Japan) was used. Maxillary right teeth were three-dimensionally laser-scanned and created as a computer file. The arch form was modeled based on the Broad arch form of Ormco (Orange, CA, USA). The size of the bracket was modeled based on the Micro-arch (Tomy Co.
®, Tokyo, Japan) stainless steel bracket [
11]. A reproduction of the entire maxillary arch was made through a mirror image of the teeth on the right side of the maxilla. Finite element analysis calculated only one side and made it mirror-symmetric when imaging the result, making it possible to reduce the computation time. To make the extracted model, the maxillary first premolar was removed to complete the modeling of the tooth part. Each tooth is independent, having a contact point with an adjacent tooth through a contact point on the mesio-distal side [
12]. Tooth inclination and angulation were arranged with reference to the angle as described previously. Brackets were positioned at the facial axis points of each crown [
13,
14,
15]. The curve of Spee and the curve of Wilson were not established (
Figure 1).
A stainless-steel wire (0.019 × 0.025 in) was used for the analysis. It was set to slide without friction between the arch wire and the bracket. No play was allowed between the arch wire and the bracket. The thickness of the periodontal ligament was modeled as 0.2 mm based on a study by Coolidge and Kronfeld et al. [
16,
17]. It was assumed to be an isotropic, homogeneous, linear elastomer. The alveolar bone was modeled so that the level was located 1 mm apical from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) [
18]. The ARH was made of stainless steel with a diameter of 0.9 mm. The retraction force was 300 g on one side. Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio (
Table 1) were based on previous studies [
19,
20,
21,
22].
2.2. Finite Element Analysis and Simulation Conditions
Finite element analysis was performed using ANSYS 11 (Ansys Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA). In order to realize continuous tooth movement, output data, which were calculation results of the FEA, were read again, and repeated calculations were performed by inserting previous output data into the input data. A total of six conditions were assumed by changing the OMS position and ARH length, as shown in
Table 2.
The horizontal position of ARH was determined between the lateral incisor and canine commonly used clinically. The vertical length of ARH was generally located in the +Z axis direction, which was the gingival direction in the case of the maxilla. The length was −1 and +1, +3, +6 mm.
High OMS (HOMS) was determined when the OMS was positioned 10 mm upward in the +Z-axis direction from the arch wire. It was horizontally positioned in the Mesial region of the second premolar. The case of positioning at 8 mm in the +Z-axis direction from the arch wire was defined as a low OMS (LOMS). It was horizontally positioned between the second premolar and the first molar (
Figure 2).
2.3. Interpretation Method
In clinical practice, when teeth are subjected to orthodontic forces, displacement occurs. In this process, the periodontal ligament (PDL) was affected. Compressed and elongated areas were created. If the orthodontic force was continued, remodeling of the alveolar bone was performed. A remodeling of the alveolar bone and balance of forces were achieved [
23].
At this time, the previous position and the changed position of the tooth could be expressed by three X, Y, and Z-axis displacements and rotation about each axis. Amounts of movement and rotation are different for each point of the tooth. The center of the bracket is a part tied to the arch wire. It can be seen as a point representing each tooth. Displacement and rotation values of the center of the bracket were regarded as representative values of the corresponding teeth. They were applied for the calculation of coordinate values of the teeth after movement. Three-dimensional coordinate values before tooth movement were set as CX, CY, and CZ. Calculated values were derived as DX, DY, and DZ for displacement caused by the force of these coordinates. The amount of change of the moment, which was the amount of rotation, was RX, RY, and RZ so that the result could be displayed. Therefore, it was designed so that subsequent coordinate values could be calculated by adding six variations to previous coordinate values. This process was continuously performed.
In the anterior part, the arch wire and the bracket were attached through the point. Only rotation was allowed. All teeth were placed in contact with each other through a contact point. Conditions were given to prevent interference with each other.
The arch wire was mathematically combined with the bracket while maintaining the stiffness. A square arch wire was put in the bracket slot, with conditions similar to those of a round arch wire. The torsion of the bracket and the torsion of the arch wire were prevented from interfering with each other. Therefore, it was possible to push and pull the bracket when the arch wire was moved by force. The bracket integrated with the teeth was free to rotate under the influence of the arch wire. As a result, when force was applied to the teeth, angulation and inclination were applied similarly to those in the clinical process.
Before the orthodontic force was applied, the first arch wire was placed in the slot of the bracket without resistance. When retraction force was applied, the arch wire was bent, and the bent state was re-stretched so that it was positioned within the bracket slot of each tooth. At this time, the stretched wire was placed in the bracket slot again based on the canine teeth. The remaining teeth were also mathematically constrained so that the arch wire was positioned again in the bracket slot. At this time, each tooth was subjected to a force. As a result, each point of the finite element was changed by displacement and rotation amount. If this change was calculated and added to the previous coordinate value, a subsequent coordinate value could be obtained. This process was designed to be calculated repeatedly. The finite element analysis was repeated until the extraction space was closed. The number of iterations (IN) is shown in
Table 3.
4. Discussion
Many finite element studies have looked at changes in teeth based on their initial responses when an orthodontic force is applied [
1,
2,
3]. However, during orthodontic treatment, tooth movement occurs, and the force system changes accordingly. To compensate for these shortcomings, Song et al. [
10] have conducted a study by dividing the start and end time points of tooth movement. In the present study, the space closing in the maxillary first premolar extraction model was simulated through continuous finite element analysis.
As a result of the study by Song et al. [
10], in the case of HOMS, the incisal edge of the maxillary central incisor extruded in M1 (model immediately after extraction model). However, in M2 (model with 1 mm of extraction space left), the incisal edge of the maxillary central incisor intruded. These results could be confirmed through a continuous process of changes in the present study. Moreover, in LOMS, extrusion of the incisal edge of the maxillary central incisors was observed in both M1 and M2 models, and the continuous process of changes was confirmed in this study (
Figure 6). The axis of the maxillary central incisors showed a more upright tendency in LOMS (
Figure 5), which was also consistent with the results of Song et al. [
10]. The rotation of the occlusal plane in CW in the M1 model was also confirmed through the tooth movement pattern before ‘bounce,’ as shown in
Figure 6. In LOMS, the occlusal plane was rotated in CW larger than in HOMS. In the M2 model, the rotation of the occlusal plane by CCW for HOMS and CW for LOMS was also consistent with the results of the present study. If there was a difference between the results of Song et al. [
10] and the results of the present study, rotation of the occlusal plane was observed with CCW only in HOMS1 in the present study. The reason for this difference might be because a significant amount of first molar intrusion was observed in continuous finite element analysis. In the M2 condition, the maxillary central incisors intruded in all HOMS conditions. In the case of HOMS1, which had the largest vertical component of retraction force due to the shortest ARH (−1 mm), CCW rotation of the occlusal plane was found, as shown in
Figure 8.
In a study by Lim [
24], HOMS was used for patients with gummy smiles, ARH was placed at −1 mm, and en masse retraction was performed to complete the treatment aesthetically. In the FEA results of the present study, intrusion of the maxillary central incisor was the largest in the ARH −1 mm condition of HOMS1, and the occlusal plane was rotated the most by CCW. Therefore, actual clinical results and FEA analysis results were consistent.
Lee et al. [
25] have studied the effect of OMS position on tooth movement. When the OMS was placed mesial to the second premolar and a short hook (+1 mm) was used, the maxillary central incisor was moved posteriorly by 7.23 mm and intruded by 1.59 mm after space closing, similar to results of our study (HOMS2: the maxillary central incisor was moved posteriorly by 8.92 mm and intruded by 1.19 mm after space closing). When the OMS was placed between the first molar and the second premolar, the maxillary central incisor was moved posteriorly by 7.2 mm and extruded by 0.25 mm after space closing, similar to results of our study (LOMS1: the maxillary central incisor was moved posteriorly by 9.58 mm and extruded by 0.53 mm after space closing).
(moment) has a
relationship, where d is the shortest distance from CR (center of resistance). On our coordinate axis, the center of resistance (anterior teeth’s CR, here in after aCR) of the 6 maxillary incisors, is located at 14.0 mm in the −Y-axis direction and 13.5 mm in the +Z-axis direction around the incisal edge of the maxillary central incisors [
12]. The center of resistance (posterior teeth’s CR, here in after pCR) of the posterior molars, according to the study of Kojima et al. [
7], is shown in
Figure 9. Moments created by anterior and posterior teeth were generated around these points. The sum of these moments became the moment of the entire tooth as a result. Calculating the moment based on tooth position in the initial state is shown in
Table 8. In the case of HOMS, since total moments has a positive value, it tends to rotate in a CCW direction. In the case of LOMS, it tends to rotate in a CW direction because it has a negative value.
The rotation of the occlusal plane appears to be a combination of the sum of moments generated by anterior and posterior teeth and intrusion or extrusion of the teeth by the vertical component of the traction force.
As a result, in this study, the occlusal plane was rotated in the CCW direction only in HOMS1. For patients with a gummy smile, the HOMS1 condition is expected to show the best effect. In the case of patients with vertical overgrowth in the face, maxillary molars often need to be intruded. This is also expected to show the best effect in the HOMS1 condition. However, due to the intrusion of maxillary molars, the mandible will rotate CCW, and the tip of the chin will protrude forward-upward [
26], which may lead to undesirable treatment results for Class III patients. To perform en masse retraction while maintaining the axis of maxillary incisors, it seems necessary to have retraction by giving a compensating curve to the arch wire [
22].
In patients with insufficient incisal showing, the opposite treatment technique should be chosen. In this case, strategies for extruding maxillary incisors should be chosen, and the most suitable condition is considered to be LOMS3. It is expected that the intrusion of the posterior region will occur, and a posterior settling process may be required at the end of treatment. In addition, the possibility of traumatic occlusion of maxillary anterior and mandibular incisors due to rotation of the occlusal plane to CW should be considered.
The last thing to look at is the lingual tipping of the posterior and anterior regions. According to FEA results, the palatal cusp of posterior teeth after space closure was not clearly visible. The palatal cusp of posterior teeth moved more in the +Z-axis direction than buccal cusps. This was because when the arch wire received retraction force and moved backward while closing the extraction space, a force to narrow the width of the posterior teeth occurred, and the bowing phenomenon of the arch as anterior teeth were inclined to the lingual side by the retraction force. In the present study, central incisors were rotated at the lingual side by 20.36 to 28.57 degrees. In actual clinical practice, there is a tendency for the anterior tooth to be inclined to the lingual side during en masse retraction, which seems to have been well implemented in this FEA (
Figure 10).
Although FEA is a research method applied in a planned model with an ideal arrangement, it has the limitation of not reflecting individualized patient conditions such as tooth arrangement, alveolar bone condition, masticatory pressure, or chewing habit. Through continuous FEA in our study, it was confirmed that many parts of tooth movement that could be observed in actual clinical practice were implemented in FEA. Further clinical studies are needed to support this finding.