The discipline of orthodontics is going through drastic changes with the advent of new concepts and technologies. Digital workflow, AI incorporation and 3D printing technologies propelled clinical interests in various forms of customized and digitally programed appliances. Among these, clear aligner treatments have taken center stage. Although numerous research data and successful clinical cases have been presented in recent years, there are many unanswered questions, shortcomings, and challenges, which lead to accepting a less-than-optimal treatment result.

Furthermore, many other novel products have been introduced in the marketplace, with claims of certain advantages over existing systems. As these new innovations flood the orthodontic world, the obvious question becomes the relevance of the existing systems. The world of orthodontics is evolving at a furious speed, and it is easy to lose sight of the fundamental concepts of orthodontic biomechanics and the desire to produce the most optimal treatment outcome.

On the other hand, digital technology can greatly enhance the accuracy of many difficult tasks such as 3D surgical prediction, craniofacial patient management, surgical guide fabrication, morphometrics, etc. Digital and AI technology have certainly made orthodontic treatment more convenient; however, quality of treatment may have suffered. With the advancement of technology, orthodontics may face inevitable regression if we continue this path of accepting compromised results. Instead, we must overcome these digital and AI shortcomings as we learn to adapt these novel treatment concepts.

As we embrace changes and incorporate new technology, the future of orthodontics will be determined by our final stance on the quality of our treatment results.