Orthodontic tooth movement with clear aligners employs a series of incrementally different, nearly invisible aligners that shift teeth gradually over a period of up to 2 years. Clear dental aligners are typically changed every 2 to 4 weeks, with patients requiring anywhere from fewer than 5 to more than 20 aligners in total. Acrylic buttons may be temporarily attached to teeth to add force to movement in intrusion and extrusion cases.
Prior to treatment, 3D models of the patient’s present and projected dentition are made. Laboratory requirements for clear aligner fabrication generally include upper and lower PVS impressions and PVS bite registration (or digital scans), full-mouth or panoramic X-rays, facial and intraoral photographs, and information regarding the number of clear dental aligners needed and any IPR recommendations.
Because they are nearly invisible and removable for brushing and eating, clear aligners enhance patient compliance, which is essential for successful outcomes. However, because aligners must be worn for 20 to 22 hours per day, some manufacturers provide built-in checkpoints at predetermined intervals to enable mid-treatment corrections and refinements if compliance falters.
The beauty of clear aligner therapy is that it practically sells itself: no unsightly wires and brackets of traditional braces; removable retainers so that patients can eat whatever they want and food doesn’t get trapped; and limited periodic visits to the dentist or orthodontist to monitor progress. The offer is just as attractive to providers:...
Where do you turn when you need answers quick? Your smartphone, of course! So why should digital dentistry be any different? ClearCorrect has teamed up with Dental Monitoring (DM) to offer dentists an innovative way to connect with their patients through their smartphones. With DM’s easy-to-use app (iOS and Android), patients are prompted to...
Passion is an important aspect of life that can be contagious. Dr. Jeffrey Briney, a general dentist in Dana Point, CA , is very passionate about his profession and enjoys the broad spectrum of general dentistry and thinking outside the box. Every day is different. Every patient is different. All aspects of dentistry are wrapped up into one. As...
If your practice offers clear aligner therapy, you want your patients to commit to a treatment process that takes time. Honesty check: Are you committed to your clear aligner marketing strategy and practice-building efforts over time? Unfortunately, a single poster in your operatory—where some of your patients are waiting anxiously for...
Like many companies that begin in a basement or garage, ClearCorrect started with a problem. In Dr. Willis Pumphrey’s case, it was more than just a problem—it was an impending crisis. It all started in 2006, when Dr. Pumphrey was using OrthoClear aligners and the company abruptly shuttered after a legal settlement with Align Technology, the...
If you offer clear aligners in your practice, you already know that they require strong retention in order to move the teeth as desired. But are you aware of the effects that trim lines have on retention? A 2012 study published in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics shows how 3 trimming techniques have remarkably different effects on retentive...
