Oral Health and Dental Management

Clear Aligners: Alternative to Traditional Braces Designed to Help Guide Teeth into their Proper Position

Olivia Curi^* Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
^*Correspondence: Olivia Curi, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, Email:

Received: 06-Dec-2021 Published: 27-Dec-2021

Description

An orthodontist or dentist, or, in the case of home-based systems, the patient, takes a mould of the patient’s teeth, which is then utilised to build a digital dental scan. The computerised model recommends phases between the current and desired tooth positions, and aligners are designed for each stage. For one or two weeks, each aligner is worn for 22 hours every day. These gradually reposition the teeth into the position that the orthodontist or dentist and the patient have agreed on. Treatment lasts an average of 13.5 months. Despite patent infringement lawsuits, no company has been able to secure an injunction against another. Clear aligners are more visible than lingual braces, but they can be removed, making teeth cleaning easier, and the dentist can apply them faster. Treatment begins with diagnostic x-rays and pictures, followed by bite registration and polyvinyl siloxane impressions or an intra-oral digital scanner to capture the patient’s bite, teeth, and gums. As digital scanning technology has advanced, the latter method has gained a lot of traction in recent years. A written evaluation is completed by the dentist/orthodontist, which includes a diagnosis and treatment plan. In order to build a digital 3D depiction of the teeth, dental imprints are scanned. The programme Treat, which creates the stages between the present and intended tooth placements, is used by technicians to move the teeth to the desired location.

Before aligners are constructed, a computer graphic representation of the projected teeth motions is supplied to the doctor and patient for approval or alteration using the ClinCheck software tool. The aligners are designed with CAD-CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) software and fabricated via stereolithography, a rapid prototyping technology. The aligner moulds are made in layers with a photo-sensitive liquid resin that cures into a hard plastic after being subjected to a laser. The aligners are constructed of an elastic thermoplastic polymer that exerts pressure on the teeth, causing them to move into the aligner’s desired position. A small, tooth-colored composite attachment may be bonded to particular teeth in patients who need a tooth rotated or pulled down. Because the form-fitted plastic used in clear aligners is not as firm as the metal used in traditional braces, the materials’ flexibility in the places that require movement must sometimes be compensated. Attachments can also be utilised to help with movement by altering the contour of the tooth. More attachments might make the aligners look unattractive. Reproximation is a technique for improving the fit between teeth.

Each aligner is designed to be worn for one to two weeks at a maximum of 22 hours per day. The treatment process takes an average of 13.5 months, though this varies depending on the complexity of the intended tooth motions. Brushing, flossing, and eating are all done with the aligner removed. Because clear aligners are constructed of plastic, heated liquids can deform them. To protect the shape of your aligners and prevent them from being stained, minimise your intake of hot liquids while having treatment. The patient is encouraged to wear a retainer at night for the foreseeable future after the treatment time has ended.

Conclusion

According to a comprehensive published in 2014, there is insufficient evidence to establish the efficacy of clear aligners. They are thought to be effective for moderate front-tooth crowding. The aligners are unlikely to be as effective as traditional braces in people who have teeth that are too far forward or backward in the socket. Clear aligners have been reported to have a higher rate of anterior tooth relapse than traditional braces. Clear aligners are more visible than lingual braces, but they can be removed, making teeth cleaning easier, and the dentist can apply them faster.