ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to fabricate a resin appliance incorporating 'wire' components without the use of an analogue impression and dental casts using an intra-oral scanner and computer technology to build the appliance. The prototype incorporated two Adam's clasps and a fitted labial bow. Firstly, the alloy components were built from Co/Cr in an initial powdered form using established digital technology methods and then inserted into a build of a resin base plate. This paper reports the first known use of Computer Aided Design and Additive Manufacture to fabricte a Hawley retainer.The scan data was imported into an appropriate, specialized computer aided design software, which was used in conjunction with a force feedback (haptic) interface. The appliance designs were then exported as STereoLithography files and transferred to an additive manufacture machine for fabrication.The results revealed that the applied techniques provide new manufacture and design opportunities in orthodontics and suggest the need for intra-oral specific additive manufacture materials to be produced and tested for biocompatibility compliance. The retainer was trial fitted orally and judged acceptable by the clinician by following few criteria regarding to the fitting of clasps on the teeth and fitting of base plate on the palate.
Introduction: