From crown set-up to crown–root set-up

Conventional treatment planning focuses mainly on crowns, allowing aesthetic and occlusal alignment but offering limited information about root behaviour. The smart crown–root set-up includes:

• teeth with roots;
• maxillary and mandibular outlines;
• root-to-bone relationships;
• simulated root positions during treatment;
• mandibular nerve tracking;
• panoramic curve analysis; and
• automated occlusal design based on Andrews’ six elements and six keys.

According to Polorto, this enables planning to be guided not only by the visible crown position but also by relevant anatomical structures. The company’s aim is to make digital orthodontic planning more biologically informed, particularly in cases in which root position and bone boundaries are clinically relevant.

The role of CBCT and AI

CBCT data processed with AI-assisted tools can support the visualisation of teeth, roots and jaw bones. When integrated into DDP-Ortho or DDS-Pro, this information allows clinicians to assess crown and root movement in relation to the surrounding anatomy. This can support movement planning in cases in which root position, bone boundaries or interdisciplinary treatment considerations are clinically relevant.

Root control as a factor in risk-aware planning

Limited root monitoring can make it more difficult to identify potential risks such as root resorption, fenestration, root collisions, delayed treatment progression or tissue overload. This is particularly relevant in cases involving large tooth movements, expansion therapy, incisor retraction, aligner treatment in complex anatomical situations, implant planning or interdisciplinary treatment. The crown–root set-up is designed to support:

• initial root position analysis;
• identification of possible collisions and risk zones;
• evaluation of planned movements;
• reduction of unnecessary stress on roots and periodontal tissues;
• modification of the treatment plan based on movement, speed and occlusion; and
• optimisation of aligner movement and interproximal reduction planning.

Optimising treatment planning

Access to full anatomical data can help clinicians select biomechanically appropriate movement paths, avoid movements or implant positions that may increase risk, and balance aesthetic goals with tissue stability. In selected cases, this may help reduce the need for corrective interventions and support a more controlled treatment workflow.

Importance for aligner therapy

Aligner therapy requires precise planning because tooth movements are staged sequentially. According to Polorto, the smart crown–root set-up adds root and bone information to the planning process, helping clinicians move beyond crown-only visualisation and towards more anatomically informed aligner treatment planning.

Further information about Polorto’s digital planning solutions is available on the company’s website. The website provides additional details on DDP-Ortho, DDP AI and DDS-Pro.