Interpretation of the Comparison of Root Resorption Between Dental Aligners and Fixed Appliances by Literature Review

Abstract

There are insufficient studies that analyze the degree of root resorption (RR) in treatment with orthodontic appliances, whether these are clear dental aligners (CAT) or fixed appliances (FAT). The aim of the study was to interpret the comparison of root resorption between dental aligners and fixed appliances in orthodontic treatment by means of a review of the literature. The study was exploratory and searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Angle Orthod databases, as well as the websites of the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, BMC Oral Health, International Orthodontics, American Journal of Orthodontics, European Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, with publications between 2016 and 2021. It was evidenced that CAT presents lower RRE (Malmgren grade  2) compared to FAT (Malmgren grade 3), It was found that RRE is multifactorial (sex, treatment time, existence of previous extractions, dislacerated roots, and even predispositions of each person), in addition it will always depend on the treating orthodontist and the treatment plan used plus the collaboration of the patient. It was interpreted that radiographs can alter the measurements because they are less precise, underestimating the real root measurement of each dental organ and because in molars the roots overlap, thus altering the measurement, so it is recommended to use cone beam computed tomography, which are more accurate and sensitive in this aspect. The authors make suggestions for possible topics related to longitudinal studies, case-control studies, in vitro studies, and advanced imaging studies.