# Improvement of Occlusal Function After Clear Aligner Orthodontics Verified by T-Scan Novus Digital Analysis

## TL;DR

This study shows that clear aligners can improve bite balance, as measured by a digital tool called T-Scan Novus, in a single patient over nine months.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the use of T-Scan Novus to objectively measure occlusal changes after clear aligner therapy in a clinical case.

## Key findings

- Occlusal force distribution became more balanced after treatment, shifting from 67.9% left to 52.4% left.
- Occlusion and disocclusion times improved to within physiological ranges (0.25 s and 0.08 s, respectively).

## Abstract

Background and Clinical Significance: Clear aligner therapy has become a widely used orthodontic treatment, particularly among adults seeking esthetic and comfortable alternatives to fixed appliances. Achieving a stable and functional occlusion remains one of the primary objectives in orthodontics. The T-Scan digital occlusal analysis system offers an innovative and objective method for quantifying occlusal contact distribution and timing, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and follow-up. This report aims to present a clinical case demonstrating the use of the T-Scan Novus system for evaluating occlusal balance before and after clear aligner therapy, highlighting its role in documenting short-term functional occlusal changes. Case presentation: A 42-year-old female patient with Class II malocclusion, deep bite, and anterior crowding was treated with Smilers® clear aligners over nine months (18 aligners). Digital occlusal analysis was performed before treatment and one month after treatment. Pre-treatment analysis demonstrated a pronounced asymmetry in occlusal force distribution, with left-side dominance (67.9%) compared with the right side (32.1%). One month after treatment, occlusal forces were more evenly distributed (52.4% left, 47.6% right). Occlusion time decreased to 0.25 s and disocclusion time to 0.08 s, falling within commonly reported physiological ranges. Conclusions: Within the limitations of a single-case design and short-term follow-up, digital occlusal analysis using the T-Scan Novus system enabled objective documentation of occlusal force distribution and timing changes after clear aligner therapy. These findings are descriptive and hypothesis-generating and should be interpreted cautiously.