What Are Teeth Aligners?
Many people have bite anomalies that need correction. One method of addressing this issue is the installation of aligners. These are removable trays made of transparent, elastic silicone, created based on the dental impressions of the specific patient. The set consists of 15-25 individually made trays that are worn sequentially. This gradually shifts the teeth in the desired direction until they reach the anatomically correct position.
Aligners must be changed according to a pre-planned schedule. This can be done independently, but it is necessary to periodically visit an orthodontist to monitor the correction process.
This method of teeth alignment requires self-discipline from the patient. Aligners must be worn for 20-22 hours a day, removing them only during meals and oral care.
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What Issues Can Be Corrected?
Aligners cannot correct all bite problems. The final decision on the application of this correction method rests with the orthodontist. They are usually used in the following cases.
Non-Closure
This anomaly is characteristic of an open bite. Its signs include a mouth that is always slightly open, asymmetry of the upper and lower parts of the face, and a lisp when pronouncing certain sounds. The pathology is more common in young children. The older a person gets, the less likely it is to develop. The main causes are heredity, childhood illnesses, nasal breathing disorders, and bad habits such as thumb sucking and nail biting.
Crossbite
This anomaly is characterised by the overlap of teeth from the upper row with those from the lower row, or vice versa. This leads to facial asymmetry and significant physical discomfort. Crossbite can result from health issues, congenital pathologies, vitamin deficiencies, injuries, and poor or absent oral hygiene.
Crowding
Due to the lack of space between teeth, they grow outside the natural arch, overlapping each other. This not only looks unattractive but also:
- Impairs the proper formation of bone tissues
Increases the risk of cavities and inflammatory gum diseases
- In children, this pathology arises from the too-rapid replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones or bad habits. In adults, it results from the eruption of wisdom teeth.
Deep Bite
A characteristic sign of this pathology is the almost complete overlap of the lower dental row by the upper one. This prevents the teeth from closing vertically. Due to this defect:
- Facial features become distorted
- Speech is impaired
Tooth wear increases
- The causes of a deep bite include heredity, congenital pathologies, childhood illnesses, and musculoskeletal defects.
Protruding Teeth
The so-called distal bite is a pathology where the upper or lower dental arch is shifted forward. This causes incorrect tooth closure, uneven chewing load distribution, and increased enamel wear. People with this bite find it difficult to chew and speak. The pathology can be congenital or result from ENT diseases and nasal breathing disorders.
"Predatory Canines"
Another pathology is the growth of canines from the gums in such a way that they overlap the upper front teeth. This looks unattractive and interferes with the normal closure of the upper and lower dental rows. The problem can arise from a small jawbone volume or the too-early replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Aligners
Like any orthodontic device, aligners have their pros and cons. During a consultation, the doctor will inform the patient about them and help choose the appropriate solution.
Advantages
- Minimal Visibility: The trays are made of transparent plastic and are almost invisible.
- Low Trauma Risk: There is no risk of damaging the tongue, mucous membrane, or gums.
- Quick Adaptation: It takes a few days to adapt, and any pain quickly subsides.
- Easy Maintenance: Aligners are easier to care for than braces.
- Comfortable to Wear: The trays do not rub against the mucous membrane, do not affect speech, and do not impose food restrictions. They can be removed for important meetings or meals.
- Low Risk of Dental Diseases: Cavities do not develop under aligners, and there are no stains on the enamel surface.
- Hypoallergenic: The material does not provoke allergic reactions and does not leave a metallic taste in the mouth.
Disadvantages
- Not Suitable for Severe Bite Defects: They are either ineffective or impractical due to the long correction time required.
- Dependence on Patient's Self-Discipline: It is important to wear the trays for the specified duration, remember to remove them before eating or drinking hot beverages, and then put them back on.
- Less Controllable Treatment: It is difficult for the doctor to make adjustments.
Stages of Treatment with Aligners
Bite correction and teeth alignment are procedures carried out in several stages.
First, the patient comes in for a consultation. The doctor examines them, assesses the condition of the oral cavity, rules out contraindications, and identifies cavities and other dental diseases.
Required Steps:
- X-rays and CT scans – to determine the structural features of the dental system
- Standard photographs – to create a photoprotocol
- Jaw scanning with an optical 3D scanner – to create digital impressions
The doctor uses the obtained data to develop an orthodontic treatment plan. A three-dimensional computer model is created to show how the teeth will move under the influence of the aligners.
Before installation, oral sanitation is necessary. This includes:
- Treating cavities and other diseases
- Eliminating inflammation foci
- Removing soft plaque and hard deposits from the teeth surface – this requires professional cleaning
- Possibly, the removal of wisdom teeth and enamel strengthening with compounds containing calcium and fluoride
Once preparation is complete, the patient is invited to the clinic. The doctor provides the set of trays, shows how to remove them, and explains the sequence and frequency of changes. Sometimes, attachments are made on the teeth for better fixation – these are invisible bumps made of composite material.
Every 2-3 months, the patient needs to visit the orthodontist to monitor the quality of treatment and assess the results of the teeth alignment.
The final stage involves wearing a retention tray. It prevents the teeth from shifting back to their original position. Depending on the patient's individual characteristics, the tray is worn at night or during the day. In some cases, a fixed retainer made of wire is installed on the inner side of the teeth to perform the same function.
What is a Virtual Setup?
A virtual setup is a simulation of the result of orthodontic treatment. Using special software, the orthodontist creates a digital 3D model of the patient’s jaws. This helps in planning the treatment, determining the stages, and setting control points.
The model allows for:
- Determining the position of the roots
- Calculating the movement path for each tooth
- Determining the number of trays in the set
The patient can see how their teeth will change. The image on the screen, showing improvements, serves as an additional motivation for them to pursue teeth alignment.
What is an Optical Digital Impression?
A virtual setup is created based on an optical digital impression. Previously, physical molds of the jaws were used to create orthodontic constructions, which were then digitised and loaded into the program. This method has disadvantages:
- Discomfort for the patient
- Errors and distortions during digitisation affecting the treatment process
Modern technology allows for the transfer of data to the program without distortions. For this, doctors use an optical scanner. It quickly provides the necessary information in electronic format – this is the optical digital impression. The scanner captures data on the size and shape of the teeth.
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Indications and Contraindications for Treatment with Aligners
Orthodontic trays are used to correct minor and moderate bite pathologies. They can be installed as an alternative to braces if the patient does not want others to see that they are undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Indications
This method of correcting defects is indicated in the following cases:
- Gaps between teeth no wider than 4-5 mm
- Various types of incorrect bite – distal, deep, crossbite
- Crowding of teeth
- Teeth tilted forward or backward, rotated around their axis
- Impacted teeth – those that have not erupted and remain in the jawbone
- Preparation for prosthetics
Contraindications
In some clinical situations, correction is not carried out until the problem is resolved:
- Cavities
- Gum inflammation
- Acute infectious diseases
- Poor oral hygiene, a large amount of soft plaque, hard deposits on the enamel surface
Absolute contraindications make the installation of aligners impossible:
- Extensive edentulism – more than five teeth are missing
- Tooth mobility caused by periodontitis, bone tissue atrophy
- A large number of implants
- Bruxism and other anomalies that disrupt normal jaw function
- Individual intolerance to the material from which the trays are made
When Aligners Will Not Help
Despite the effectiveness of these orthodontic devices, they cannot always provide the required result. They will not have sufficient impact in the following situations:
- Congenital bite pathologies, especially of moderate and severe degree
- Complex cases of mesial bite, where the lower jaw dominates the upper jaw
- Combination of abnormal bite with chronic ENT diseases or serious posture disorders
Aligners or Braces
Both bite correction technologies have their advantages and disadvantages. During a consultation at our clinic, the orthodontist will explain the pros and cons of these systems and help choose the suitable option.
Braces:
- Do not always allow for a predictable treatment outcome and correction duration
- Visible when installed on the front surface of teeth – even if the plates are made of ceramic or artificial sapphire, the connecting archwire can be seen
- Can cause pain, scratch the mucous membrane, and the adaptation period often lasts several weeks
- Impose dietary restrictions: hard, sticky, and chewy foods are not allowed or are undesirable
- Require complex care, which is not always effective – often, multiple cavities need treatment after wearing braces
Advantages of Braces:
- They are universal, allowing for the correction of almost any bite pathology and helping with severe defects
Aligners:
- Provide a more predictable result
- Almost invisible when worn
- Do not require giving up dietary habits
- Do not injure the oral cavity
- Do not require complex care
- Allow for timely detection and treatment of dental diseases
However, transparent elastic trays cannot correct all bite problems. They are usually used to fix minor or moderate defects. If the pathology is severe, they will be ineffective.
The AESTHETE Dental Clinic is located in Dubai (UAE), Bluewaters Island. We invite patients of all ages who require bite correction and teeth alignment with aligners. Experienced orthodontists will select the optimal solution considering age, lifestyle, severity of the problem, and other important factors.
If you have any questions, the clinic administrators will answer them. They will inform you about the cost of treatment, help choose a time for a visit, and schedule a consultation.
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