What is the best clear aligner material for predictable treatment?

When are clear aligners right for your patients?

While many patients are likely to request that their orthodontic treatment is carried out using clear aligners, it’s vital to ensure that this is right for them. There are a couple of important factors to consider:

Are clear aligners clinically appropriate? It’s important to assess the complexity of the case to help you establish whether a patient would receive quality results from clear aligner therapy, or if the clinical situation is so severe that it requires a fixed approach, or even referral to a specialist. If you decide that a great outcome could be achieved using clear aligners, and the patient is happy with this approach, this is a step in the right direction.

Will the patient comply with wear and oral hygiene instruction? While clear aligners are far less restrictive in terms of oral hygiene than fixed braces, it’s crucial that patients maintain high standards of cleanliness throughout their treatment. Additionally, patients must comply with wear instructions for optimal and predictable treatment results. If aligners are not seated correctly, or worn for the right amount of time, treatment is unlikely to move forward predictably.[ii]

If you feel that your patient is a good candidate for clear aligner treatment, it is crucial to ensure that they are well informed about what it will entail, as this will help to reinforce compliance.

Predictable tooth movement is key

When providing clear aligner therapy, offering predictable treatment is key. This gives you the ability to plan a case in advance, and show patients how you expect their treatment to progress. Treatment planning software can be used to easily display predicted movement of teeth. This can act as a fantastic visual aid when communicating with patients, as it can outline the anticipated movement of teeth at each aligner step. This enables patients to gain a good understanding of their treatment plan, and helps to underline the need for compliance with wear instruction.

The material the aligner is made of can have an impact on tooth movement predictability. As can the use of attachments, buttons, and elastics, which enable clinicians to target more complex tooth movements with accuracy. This targeted treatment is key when tackling the more challenging cases, as it offers additional options and expands the scope of what is possible with clear aligner therapy.

Force retention in different aligner materials

In order to predictably plan tooth movements, consistent force retention throughout the duration of the aligner wear time is key. If
aligners lose their force with wear, they are less likely to deliver the intended movements of the aligner step. However, when a clear aligner is used which is designed to maintain consistent force throughout the duration whether, 7, 10, or 14 days, clinicians and patients can expect the teeth to move as predicted.

ClearCorrect^® aligners are made of ClearQuartz™ material, which features unique properties to retain ten times more of their initial force than competitors.[iii] The material’s tri-layer design features an elastomeric layer that applies gentle and continuous pressure, enclosed by a low porosity, durable, stain-resistant shell. By maintaining force consistency over time, teeth move more efficiently.[iv] Because of this, ClearQuartz™ supports more predictable tooth movement.[v]

If you are looking to offer clear aligner treatment to your patients, it’s essential to assess each case individually and ensure that they are suitable for this treatment type. Once you’ve established that clear aligner treatment is an appropriate option, discuss this with your patient, and ensure that they will be happy to comply with your wear and oral health instruction throughout the course of treatment. This will give them the best chance of success.