Therapy with transparent aligners: medical expertise supported by digital tools
Laughing heartily and being able to show beautiful teeth at the same time – many adults would still like to fulfill this wish even if the position of their teeth was not corrected in their youth. A casual smile can be liberating, and beautiful teeth boost our confidence. A good tooth position also allows more powerful chewing and biting and can prevent gingivitis because the right space between the teeth enables thorough cleaning.
If you suffer from a misaligned tooth, you can still correct it as an adult – for example with transparent aligners, because they are practically invisible in everyday life. Medical supervision is essential, however, because any intervention to change the position of teeth is a process that changes the position of the teeth in the bone. It is therefore necessary that the patient’s oral health – including the condition of the mouth, gums, teeth, roots and underlying jaw structures – be thoroughly assessed by a trained dentist or orthodontist prior to initiating therapy and continuously monitored throughout any treatment.
The patient should be informed of all available treatment options. The dentist or orthodontist should independently determine which treatment option is most appropriate for a particular patient. On top of that, the medical examination is at the beginning of every tooth correction and should be continued throughout the course of treatment.
Tooth correction is a case-by-case decision
The Internet offers its users an unprecedented variety of information, and even aligner therapy is now available online. Of course, it also provides various information on health issues and allows comparisons between offers on the market. But oral health doesn’t follow a formula. No remote scan can replace the trained eye of a dentist. The even bite, the position of the jaw, the condition of individual teeth and gums, any existing preconditions that can influence dental treatment – all these are factors that must be clarified by a doctor in a personal initial consultation.
A tooth correction with aligners is not a purely cosmetic procedure. – It is a medical therapy in which the patient’s teeth are shifted in the jawbone. The process requires regular personal checks by a trained dentist or orthodontist – from the initial diagnosis to the completion of the treatment. In addition, it is not an accepted medical standard in Germany to offer aligner therapy without an on-site dental or orthodontic examination. General professional standards – including the guidelines of the German Dental Association of February 25, 2019 – require a personal examination and medical participation in the treatment.
During the first consultation, the patient and doctor should talk about what results the patient can expect from the therapy and what can be achieved with which method and at what cost. The doctor then creates a 3D scan of the patient’s mouth using an intraoral scanner, or he takes classic dental impressions. If recent x-rays or other bone imaging studies are available, the doctor will examine the structures below the gumline and, if necessary, take additional digital scans of the jaw. He also photographs the patient’s mouth and face.
“Patients are not always sure whether orthodontic treatment, for example with clear aligners, is an option for them or not. They may have tooth decay or underlying conditions such as periodontal disease that need to be identified and addressed before treatment can safely be performed. Only a personal examination by a licensed dentist or orthodontist can clarify this.” Michaela Sehnert, Halle
A process that requires support
The established provider Align Technology, which has treated almost 13 million patients with the Invisalign system in 25 years, offers dentists the iTero intraoral scanner, with which they can record the initial situation in the mouth very precisely. Align uses data from nearly 13 million completed Invisalign cases to help Invisalign-certified physicians plan predictable patient outcomes.
A series of individually fitted clear aligners are made at a time, which the patient wears in sequence, alternating between one and two weeks, exactly as prescribed by their doctor. Each new splint brings the teeth a little closer to the desired final position. The aligners are prescribed by the doctor and – according to the doctor’s prescription – specially adapted to the individual treatment needs of each patient.
Dentists or orthodontists accompany the entire treatment, control the course of therapy and thus ensure that the desired result is achieved. As a rule, the patient goes for a check-up about every six weeks. The dentist or orthodontist keeps track of the process, can explain, encourage – and sometimes admonish. At the same time, patients who opt for the Invisalign system also have an app on their cell phone with which they can track the progress of their treatment themselves.
Michaela Sehnert, who has already successfully completed many tooth corrections in her practice in Halle, also advises close supervision by a certified doctor: “Tooth correction is not cosmetic and dental splints are not a lifestyle product. Aligners are classified by the EU as a class 2a medical device, just like normal braces. They have to meet the highest quality standards in production and application. This only works if a dentist or orthodontist plans and regularly monitors the treatment.”
The app provides orientation
During treatment with the Invisalign system, the progress of treatment can be clearly tracked via an app on the mobile phone. The app motivates by showing how well things are going. It also protects against application errors by the patient. The My Invisalign app shows which aligners are currently in line. After uploading photos of the teeth and the aligners used, both the app and the treating dentist check between appointments to make sure the process is going according to plan. The app also reminds you of the next check-up appointment.
Markus Sebastian, Executive Vice President and Managing Director EMEA at Align Technology, summarizes: “The interaction of medical expertise and supporting digital technology makes the decisive difference for the patient when correcting teeth with the Invisalign system. With treatment lasting several months, safety, guidance and continued support from a doctor are essential to protect patients’ health and enable them to smile with confidence.”
Quelle: Align Technology