# The Impact of Therapeutic Ultrasound on Bone Radio Density Following Orthodontic Treatment with Clear Aligners: A Preliminary Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound with clear aligners may increase bone density during orthodontic treatment.

## Contribution

The study is the first to investigate LIPUS with clear aligners for bone remodeling in orthodontics.

## Key findings

- LIPUS group showed significant increase in upper arch bone radio density (444.6 HU to 751.3 HU).
- Control group had slight decrease in upper arch bone density (657.4 HU to 650.5 HU).
- No significant difference in orthodontic outcomes between groups.

## Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) on bone radio density in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, aiming to enhance bone remodeling and improve treatment stability.

This retrospective study included 68 participants divided into two groups: 34 treated with LIPUS and 34 in a control group. Bone radio density was measured using Hounsfield units from CBCT scans before and after treatment. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests and paired t-tests.

The average age was 29.85 ± 14.85 years in the control group and 36.29 ± 12.78 years in the LIPUS group. Bone radio density in the upper arch of the LIPUS group significantly increased from 444.6 HU to 751.3 HU (p < 0.001), while the control group showed a slight decrease in the upper arch (657.4 HU to 650.5 HU, p = 0.86). In the lower arch, a similar trend was observed in the LIPUS group, with an increase from 767.7 HU to 823.4 HU (p = 0.17), though not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in post-treatment ABO DI scores between groups, suggesting equivalent effectiveness in achieving orthodontic outcomes.

LIPUS with clear aligners seems promising in enhancing bone radio density, indicating an improved bone remodeling effect. This highlights LIPUS's potential as a beneficial adjunct in orthodontic treatments.