True 3D tooth movement requires both CBCT and IOS data for accurate planning. This combination ensures that AI-staged aligners, such as those used in the Klaer system, can effectively plan and execute tooth movement in three dimensions.
The Limitations of Crown-Only Data
Planning tooth movement based solely on crown data, as captured by intraoral scans (IOS), provides an incomplete picture. While the patient's smile may appear aligned, the root positions might tell a different story. Crown-only data lacks information about root positions within the alveolar envelope, bone support for each tooth, and potential root movements towards cortical plates. This can lead to issues such as unexpected root resorption, fenestrations, inadequate inter-radicular space, and relapse due to unresolved root torque. Therefore, planning with crown-only data means working with half the necessary information.
Enhancing Planning with CBCT and IOS Data
CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) provides a volumetric view of each tooth, including root length, form, proximity to adjacent teeth, and cortical and cancellous bone boundaries. When combined with IOS data, the planning environment becomes truly three-dimensional. This combination allows for the evaluation of each proposed tooth position, ensuring that the root apex remains within sound bone, the root trunk clears adjacent roots during rotation, and the planned torque expression is anatomically achievable.
At Klaer, clinicians upload both CBCT and IOS datasets through the platform. The AI staging engine, part of the kyour.ai ecosystem, processes this co-registered data to generate a treatment sequence that accounts for root position at every stage. This results in a staging proposal built on anatomy, not approximation.
Clinical Implications of True 3D Tooth Movement
True 3D tooth movement planning has significant clinical implications, particularly for torque, angulation, and alveolar limits.
Torque (Root Labial / Lingual)
Torque, defined as the rotation of the tooth around its buccolingual axis, is challenging for aligner systems to express predictably. The CBCT layer in Klaer's planning environment allows orthodontists to see the starting root inclination in true 3D and set a target that keeps the apex within the alveolar envelope. This reduces the risk of root fenestration at the labial cortex.
Angulation (Tip)
Mesiodistal root angulation affects inter-radicular spacing and is critical for planning implant sites or managing extraction cases. Crown-based staging can improve contact point relationships while leaving roots converging. CBCT co-registration makes this issue visible before treatment starts.
Alveolar Limits
Each tooth has a biologically defined boundary for safe movement: the alveolar housing. CBCT delineates this boundary precisely, reducing the risk of adverse tissue response and supporting long-term periodontal health. This is especially important in adult patients with existing bone loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CBCT required for every Klaer case? Yes, CBCT is required for every Klaer case because root position data is integral to AI staging. Without volumetric data, the planning engine cannot account for root angulation, alveolar limits, or root proximity.
Can I adjust the AI-generated staging before approving the plan? Yes, the orthodontist review step is built into the Klaer workflow. You can modify tooth movement targets, attachment prescriptions, and staging sequences before sign-off. Manufacturing does not begin until the treating clinician approves the final plan.
How does weekly phone imaging fit into root-movement monitoring? Weekly at-home imaging captures crown position and aligner seating in real time, providing data to the clinician between appointments. While phone imaging monitors surface fit rather than root position directly, early detection of tracking issues allows timely clinical intervention before root position diverges from the plan.
Is Klaer's AI staging validated by an orthodontist for every case? Yes, every treatment plan generated by the Klaer system is reviewed and verified by an orthodontist before manufacturing begins. AI staging accelerates the planning process and brings anatomical precision, while orthodontist verification ensures clinical appropriateness for the individual patient.
Klaer is manufactured in the UAE and available to orthodontists and dentists practicing worldwide. For more information on how the CBCT + IOS workflow integrates with your current clinical protocols, contact the Klaer clinical team through klaer.ae.