ABSTRACT
Precise bracket positioning is essential in modern orthodontics. However, there can be alterations in the vertical position of a bracket due to several reasons. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of variations in the vertical bracket position on the crown inclination in Korean patients with normal occlusion. From a larger group of what was considered to be normal occlusions obtained from the Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Seoul National University, each of the final 10 subjects (6 males and 4 females, with an average age of 22.3 years) was selected. The dental models of each of the subjects were scanned three-dimensionally by a laser scanner, and measurements drawn from these were made on the scanned dental casts of the subjects were input into the computer program. From this the occlusal plane and the bracket plane were determined. The tooth plane was then constructed to measure the crown inclination on the bracket plane of each tooth. From a practical standpoint, information was obtained on the extent to which the torque of a tooth would be changed as the bracket position was to be moved vertically (in +/-0.5 mm, +/-1.0 mm, +/-1.5 mm) from its ideal position. A one way analysis of the variance (ANOVA) was used to compare each group of the different vertical distances from the bracket plane on a specific tooth. Duncan's multiple comparison test was then performed. There were statistically significant differences in the crown inclination among the groups of different vertical distances for the upper central incisor, upper lateral incisor, upper canine, upper first and second molars, lower first and second premolars, and lower first and second molars (p<0.05). On the upper anterior teeth, upper molars, lower premolars and lower molars, the resultant torque values due to the vertical displacement of the bracket were different depending on the direction of the displacement, occlusal or gingival. This study implies that the torque of these teeth should be handled carefully during the orthodontic treatment. In circumstances in which the bracket must be positioned more gingivally or occlusally due to various reasons, it would be useful to provide the chart of torque alteration of each tooth referred to in this study with its specified bracket prescription.