AlignerFlow LC makes it possible to fabricate perfectly formed clear aligner attachments, leading to more efficient appointments and predictable results
Dr. Foroud Hakim has offered clear aligners in his San Ramon, CA, practice for more than a decade, using various composite materials — both packable and flowable—to fabricate aligner attachments. None were ideal, so when he heard VOCO was developing a composite specifically de-signed for the task, he wanted in. He provided input on the ideal material properties and was among the first to beta-test the resulting nanohybrid composite.
AlignerFlow LC features all the performance com-ponents he noted—making attachment placement more effi cient and leading to better outcomes.
“The real effi ciency comes in the actual fl ow and tracking of the clear aligner treatment,” he said. “There’s a huge time drag if the attachments aren’t perfectly formed. The orthodontic movements won’t be as prescribed, and when you see the patients at follow-up, you’ll realize the case isn’t tracking.”
A Better Option
Before AlignerFlow LC, there were no composites optimized for attachment fabrication, Dr. Hakim said. Some options worked better than others, but all had downsides. Flowable materials fit well into the nooks and crannies for good adaptation, but would run out of the aligner. Packables didn’t run, but because they weren’t as fl owable, they often caused voids.
AlignerFlow LC is the “perfect middle ground,” Dr. Hakim said. The adaptable material won’t fl ow out of the aligner, and properly shaped attachments ensure there’s enough force for the prescribed movements, reducing the need for refinements.
The composite also improves cleanup. Flash is often left behind when attachments are removed, but AlignerFlow LC’s fluorescent effect makes it easier to visualize and remove excess.
“Once you feel like you’ve removed it all, you can hit it with the UV light. If there’s any left on the tooth, it will shine back at you,” Dr. Hakim said. “This makes cleanup more efficient, and the patient isn’t left with bits of flash that you have to go back and polish.”
Getting It Right the First Time
AlignerFlow LC not only creates well-formed attachments that don't wear over time, they also blend in beautifully. The attachments have a chameleon-like effect—a feature patients appreciate.
But patients won't be happy if they’re told what was supposed to be a 10-month treatment will take more than a year, Dr. Hakim noted. With well-formed attachments, patients are more likely to complete treatment in the prescribed amount of time.
“This material gets the attachment formed the right way the fi rst time," Dr. Hakim said. "When that happens, the placement appointment is faster and patients receive better quality care.”
