Thursday 17 November 2011

Worried about wearing metal braces to correct your maligned teeth?


Invisible aligners, introduced in 1999, is a series of removable aligners which is an esthetic alternative to fixed labial braces. Each aligner is programmed to move a tooth or small groups of teeth. This unique method of tooth movement has involved more adults with orthodontic therapy.

As the popularity of these aligners grew, questions regarding the efficacy of this system still remain. How   well do these aligners move teeth? Studies show that aligners given by an orthodontist (specialist in jaws & teeth.  An additional three years of expertise is required to get this degree after finishing the basic dental education ) followed by midcourse correction & conversion to fixed appliances before the end of treatment would give the best possible result to the patient.

The most accurate movement with clear aligners is lingual constriction. This data suggests that greater accuracy is achieved with closure of spaces in anterior teeth. Alleviation of crowding is best done by IPR rather than expansion & proclination. Extrusion of teeth would require attachments like buttons on the teeth.  Bloyd & Vlaskalic reported that correction of deep overbite is highly predictable with aligners.

Greater than 3mm of mesiodistal movement is achievable with anteroposterior mal occlusions. Aligners are highly effective in case of proclination or retraction of teeth up to 3mm.  Clinicians who prescribe Invisible Aligners/ Invisalign should fully recognize the limitations & advantages of the treatment & give the best possible & gold standard treatment.

For more information on Invisible Aligners/ Treatment of Invisalign in Hyderabad, please contact - Dentist & Dontist, Jubilee Hills Road No.36, Hyderabad