Three-dimensional positions of the center of resistance of the maxillary canine distal movement under orthodontic force loading.

Using finite-element analysis, we aimed to determine the center of resistance (CRes) of the maxillary canine for setting orthodontic forces. The inclination of the canine was measured by first loading from the mesial to the distal side of the mesial root surface, then the position and direction of the load that minimized the inclination were investigated. The CRes was defined as the set of midpoints of the minimum distances between two inclination lines. Twenty-one CRes values were calculated from a set of seven lines. These CRes data were then aggregated as a 95% confidence ellipsoid of width 0.170×0.016×0.009 mm with center points 4.269, 0.224, and 4.315 mm in the apical, mesial, and lingual directions from the origin, respectively. Further studies are required to effectively apply the CRes identified in this study to clinical applications.