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ePaper created 2018-02-16, 11:39:59 | version 1.38.0
NOVEMBER2017 When Orthodontics clears the future. I think one can agree that no matter the particular topic, as long as it is orthodontia, it has to start with Angle – Edward Hartley Angle. He is reffered to as the “American father of orthodontics”(1) but I am sure that he was much more than that. I sometimes wonder what would he say about the tremendous technologies we have nowadays? ClinCheck: stage 1 of 2 The story of clear alignments is not that young, because it starts one decade and a half after the passing of Angle with Kesling who first brought termoplastic appliances into orthodontics.(2) And it happened that this exciting affair that started didn’t stopped because others have also fallen for it: Ponitz, McNamara, Sheridan etc. (3) But it was not until the dawn of a new millenium that clear appliances started to conquer and divide. It was 1997 when Align Technology, Inc. introduced Invisalign. And the use of 3D technology to move the teeth, to better visualize the treatment all along with the novelty of a virtual world arose the interest of the entire community of orthodontists. (4) Studies show that the prevalence of malocclusion is nearly 30% in the worlds population, and we are talking about severe enough problems to need orthodontic treatment. (5) That leads us to a point where we realize that in deed treatment is needed. Now, all we have to do is figure out how to treat. Should we discard any novelty just because of the traditional ways, or should we try to move towards an evidence-based decision? (6) There are still voices which suggest that clear orthodontics is not working on more difficult cases and that Invisalign is just a class I malocclusion solution. But research has shown that if the clinician is highly trained and fully aware of the growth potential of the patient, the anatomy of the dentition and the biomechanical requirements, the treatment options become wider. (7) And of course we should not forget the one element which is utterly important: the needs of our patients. Whenever talking of those needs in the 21st century, one word pops out immediately – aesthetics. The demand of aesthetic treatment is sky rocket! People are almost capable of accepting any dental treatment as long as it offers the possibility to a normal social life. In the particular case of orthodontics, social = aesthetic = invisible. And this is the point were Invisalign becomes a real paradigm shifter. Treatment process in some easy steps From the very first time a person enters the clinic for an Invisalign treatment, the prices heard there will have such an impressive power that they will end up in headaches. So always recommend people to keep aspirin or ibuprofen at hand. They will thank you later. After the pills will have accomplished their purpose, the patient with a better health now, will be able to engage in a conversation. If the treatment plan is approved by the patient, the orthodontist must take some impressions of the dental arches, something that can be done digitally or not depending on the preference of the doctor. Then the impressions will turn into some very beautiful models (again using digital or non digital technologies) and these models will be analysed thoroughly by the orthodontist which will use a software (Clincheck) to reproduce what movements are needed in order to straighten the teeth and how much time can this take. Once the orthodontist analysis is done, the laboratory will build multiple sets of custom made aligners that will gently adjust to the teeth and that will require wearing at least 20hours a day. The aligners change once the results targeted by the first set are obtained. Then the next set is worn and so on. (8) But enough chatting! All the above and much more can be easily accessed visiting Invisalign official web page which I strongly recommend. 23