Introduction of In-Office Three-Dimensional Virtual Setup of Digital Orthodontic Models

The purpose of this article was to introduce guidelines and a protocol for in-office 3D virtual setup of digital orthodontic models by clinicians with experience in using currently available orthodontic virtual setup software. The procedure for 3D virtual setup consists of pre-setup preparation, crown movement, and post-setup evaluation. In the first step, the crowns in the digital model are prepared to allow the movement of individual crowns in the 3D virtual space. During the second step, a new occlusion is completed by moving the crowns according to the properly selected arch form and prescription. In the final step, the setup result was evaluated by using visual inspection tools or numeric comparison tools, which are only available in virtual setup software. Establishment of standard protocols and advancement in automatic functions can lead to faster and more accurate 3D virtual setup.