Comparative Evaluation of Expected and Actual Treatment Outcomes for Overjet and Overbite Correction with Clear Aligners: A Retrospective Clinical Study

Abstract

Introduction: Clear aligners offer numerous advantages over traditional braces, including superior aesthetics, improved oral hygiene, fewer emergency visits, and enhanced patient comfort.Their removability allows patients to maintain better periodontal health throughout treatment, reducing the risk of decalcification and carious lesions associated with fixed appliances. Moreover, the transparent appearance of aligners addresses a major psychological barrier for adult patients, many of whom are reluctant to undergo visible orthodontic treatment. By comparing planned movements in the digital setup with the actual clinical outcomes, this study will provide insights into the real-world performance of clear aligner therapy in specific clinical scenarios Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare Expected and Actual Treatment Outcome for Overjet and Overbite on digital models of those individuals who have undergone treatment with Clear Aligners Methodology: The retrospective study comprises of 38 patients treated with aligners. The pretreatment, expected post treatment and actual post treatment overjet and overbite were evaluated and efficacy for aligners to treat overjet and overbite was calculated in terms of percentage Results: The mean pretreatment overjet was 4.31 ± 0.83 mm and overbite was 4.21 ± 0.81 mm, with an efficacy rate of 47.59 ± 8.01% for overbite and 51.59 ± 6.78% for overjet. The results indicate that while clear aligners can effectively reduce overjet and overbite, the achieved corrections were often less precise than predicted by digital treatment planning. Conclusion: Clear aligners can reduce overjet and overbite, but their predictability for the same is less. Clinicians must prioritize case selection, biomechanical planning, and patient compliance to optimize outcomes.