Influence of removable orthodontics on caries reduction
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 16th February 2023
Some patients may consider orthodontic treatment to be a solely aesthetic procedure, but it can also offer patients other benefits. Misalignment can lead to a range of potential problems including caries, tooth loss, premature wear or chipping, periodontitis, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD).[i] Correct alignment is important for improving the function of the teeth and the potential for effective cleaning. Improving the patient’s ability to perform adequate oral hygiene is essential to prevent the build-up of bacterial plaque and reduce the risk of caries development and periodontitis.[ii]
Misalignment causing oral disease
Found in around 84% of the global population, overcrowding is very common.[iii]
It can create problems for patients when carrying out oral hygiene routines. Caused by a lack of space for the teeth in the mouth, overcrowding can lead to teeth overlapping and becoming crooked, which makes brushing and interdental cleaning challenging as some tooth surfaces and interdental spaces become hard to access. If patients are unable to brush effectively, this could result in a build-up of plaque which can cause oral diseases to develop.i Therefore, correcting misalignment, especially overcrowding, means function is improved and effective oral hygiene is made possible.ii
Impact of orthodontics
It is important, when misalignment is affecting the ability to maintain oral health, to encourage the patient to consider orthodontic treatment. Offering orthodontic therapy when they are younger will help to rectify any alignment issues early, and therefore reduce the risk of caries development and periodontitis, and improve the patient’s overall oral health in adulthood.[iv]
Options for this include fixed orthodontic appliances, or clear aligners. In some more severe cases, only fixed appliances may be appropriate, but as aligner technology continues to develop, this treatment modality is becoming more versatile.ii Some patients may feel intimidated by fixed orthodontic appliances, and the years of bracket adjustments which can come along with them.i This can hinder treatment acceptance, so it may be beneficial for you and the patient to consider the option of removable aligners, as a less daunting option.
Benefits of removable aligners compared to fixed
It is difficult to ensure good oral hygiene with fixed appliances, because there are multiple surfaces which become hard to reach – resulting in plaque build-up, gingival inflammation, and periodontal problems, in spite of any preventative measures taken during treatment. This difficulty is even more apparent when compared to removable aligners which don’t come with any physical obstructions.ii
Removable orthodontics is also usually preferred by patients. When they are appropriate for use, removable appliances can facilitate segmented movement of the teeth and, in some cases, a shorter treatment time.ii
Research suggests that patients are more likely to accept orthodontic treatment using clear aligners rather than fixed appliances because of their superior comfort and aesthetics during treatment.[v] Removable appliances also encourage patients to remove plaque from their teeth and from the inside of aligners regularly and thoroughly to help maintain the aesthetic appearance. This reduced plaque accumulation helps to not only maintain, but improve periodontal health, which is very challenging for patients with fixed appliances.vTherefore, when removable aligners are used, patients often enhance their oral hygiene both during and after treatment.
The choice of aligner system is important to enable you to maximise the potential benefits offered by clear aligners. Choose a clear aligner which offers safety, reliability, predictability, ease of planning and flexibility – all of which will allow you to provide accurate, targeted treatment for your patients. When looking to offer clear aligner treatment, consider ClearCorrect® the premium solution for removable orthodontics. ClearCorrect®, a Straumann Group brand, features the third generation ClearQuartz™ tri-layer material which is designed to apply gentle and continuous force across the entire wear time, and when compared to single layer aligners, retains 10x more of the initial force. The aligners also feature cut outs for elastics, buttons and bite ramps to enable you to carry out targeted treatment.
Provide your patients with high-quality orthodontic treatment which will enable them to maintain and improve their oral hygiene routines. With removable orthodontic solutions being preferred by many patients due to their superior comfort, aesthetics and potential for hygiene, they are an excellent solution for those looking to improve their oral health, dental function, and smile aesthetics. For cases in which it is appropriate, consider clear aligners rather than fixed orthodontic appliances to encourage patient satisfaction and treatment acceptance, and reduce the risk of periodontitis and caries.
For more information on ClearCorrect®, visit: https://www.straumann.com/clearcorrect/en/home.html
[i] Dorr, Laura. “Identifying Patients for Ortho Treatment.” Dental Products Report 56.11 (2022). https://www.dentalproductsreport.com/view/identifying-patients-for-ortho-treatment
[ii] Kramer, Axel, and Christian Splieth. “Health promotion through structured oral hygiene and good tooth alignment.” GMS Hygiene and Infection Control 17 (2022). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9174873/
[iii] Cenzato, Niccoló, Anna Nobili, and Cinzia Maspero. “Prevalence of dental malocclusions in different geographical areas: Scoping review.” Dentistry Journal 9.10 (2021): 117. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/9/10/117/htm
[iv] Foster, Brian L., et al. “Deficiency of Mineralization-Regulating Transcription Factor Trps1 Compromises Quality of Dental Tissues and Increases Susceptibility to Dental Caries” Front. Dent. Med (2022). https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdmed.2022.875987/full
[v] Boyd, Robert L. “Periodontal and restorative considerations with clear aligner treatment to establish a more favorable restorative environment.” Compendium 30.5 (2009). https://www.aegisdentalnetwork.com/cced/2009/06/case-report-periodontal-and-restorative-considerations-with-clear-aligner-treatment-to-establish-a-more-favorable-restorative-environment
