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OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the clinical transfer accuracy of partially enclosed single hard vacuum-formed trays based on three-dimensional (3D) printed models for lingual bracket indirect bonding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients receiving lingual orthodontic treatment were enrolled. Digital models with ideal bracket positions were 3D-printed, followed by fabrication of partially enclosed single hard vacuum-formed trays. Digital impressions captured actual bracket positions and were compared to the ideal positions. One-tailed t-tests assessed if errors were within clinically acceptable thresholds of 0.5 mm for linear measurements and 2° for angular measurements. RESULTS: Mean bracket transfer errors were 0.052 mm, 0.076 mm, 0.106 mm, 0.795°, 1.344°, and 2.485° for mesiodistal, buccolingual, occlusogingival, rotation, tip, and torque, respectively. Transfer errors were statistically below the clinically acceptable thresholds for all dimensions except torque. Frequencies of acceptable transfer errors were 100%, 100%, 99.3%, 93.1%, 78.3%, and 54.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Partially enclosed single hard vacuum-formed trays with 3D-printed models transfer lingual brackets with high accuracy in the mesiodistal, buccolingual, and occlusogingival dimensions, rotation, and tip. However, the transfer of torque remains questionable.
Anh et al. (Wed,) studied this question.