Orthodontic aligners: structure and principle of operation

A good replacement for braces are teeth straightening aligners made of elastic material. From this article you will learn about the differences between the design and braces and its effectiveness.

Aligners are removable orthopedic structures used in dentistry to correct minor defects in the dentition and bite. Outwardly, they are similar to the mouthguards that boxers use to protect their teeth.

For production, elastic materials are used, which form a transparent overlay after melting.

The principle of operation is based on slight pressure from the aligner, as a result of which the alveolar tissue is slightly resorbed.

This allows the tooth to move in the right direction. The pressure force is moderate, so it will not be possible to correct complex malocclusions and uneven teeth using a silicone mouth guard.

Stages of treatment

Treatment of minor malocclusions and crooked teeth with aligners is performed in stages.

1. At the first consultation with a doctor, an examination of the oral cavity is performed. Diseases of the teeth and oral mucosa are identified, and various methods are used to eliminate the inflammatory process and caries.
2. Next, together with the orthodontist, the type of aligners is selected , after which a treatment plan is developed.
3. Impressions are taken from both jaws. The working material is a special mass with a pleasant mint taste. The cast hardens in just a couple of minutes.
4. The silicone impression is sent to the dental technician's laboratory , where he makes a plaster model of the aligner. After this, the specialist manually adjusts each tooth.
5. The treatment process is divided into stages, for each of them a different aligner model is developed. The number of trays in the set is determined by the complexity of the defect and the anatomical features of the patient’s jaw.
6. At a doctor’s appointment, the patient tries on the first aligner and receives recommendations for further use of the aligners, as well as for caring for the structure.

What result can you expect

Today, only some, the most severe, malocclusions cannot be corrected with aligners. Typically, these are situations where jaw surgery is required. In this case, the doctor may recommend permanent braces (before or after surgery), and sometimes an orthodontic facial mask is required.

But most disorders are classified as mild or moderate, and all of them are corrected with the help of removable mouthguards.

The doctor always develops a treatment plan so that the result is ideal: straight teeth and their correct closure. Moreover, if there are impacted teeth, they try to preserve them, that is, bring them to the correct position, and not remove them.

With aligners, you can count on the fact that your bite will be perfect: both the position of the teeth and the closure of their rows will be absolutely correct. Typically, the orthodontist does not stop treatment until this result is achieved.

Contraindications to treatment with aligners

Experts identify a number of restrictions on the use of aligners to correct dental defects. These include:

• destruction of alveolar bone tissue;
• acute periodontal diseases;
• tartar;
• skeletal abnormalities of the jaw;
• TMJ diseases;
• somatic disorders;
• impacted teeth.

The decision to correct a bite with braces is difficult for patients. The main reason is the duration of such treatment and the lack of attractiveness of braces. Using clear aligners to straighten teeth has become the most acceptable option to correct the situation.

At the moment, there are various ways to correct a bite. One of the most modern and effective are aligners for teeth straightening. They are manufactured and selected taking into account the characteristics and wishes of the client.

How long should you wear aligners?

18 hours a day is the optimal minimum wearing time. The total duration of treatment depends on the complexity of the case and in each situation this issue is resolved individually. A good dentist in Moscow familiarizes the patient with all the stages and nuances before installing aligners.

Are there any restrictions when wearing aligners?

With aligners on your teeth, you cannot eat, drink any drinks other than water, or chew gum or candy. It is recommended to avoid contact sports such as boxing or others where there is a risk of injury.

But when the aligners are removed, there are no restrictions: everything depends on the patient’s comfort. You can eat any food, including solid foods, undergo almost all medical and cosmetic procedures (we wrote about this in more detail), and brush your teeth with any brush.

Aligners should be stored in a container, and cleaned with care - there is a risk of breaking them.

An orthodontist can tell you more about all stages of treatment during a consultation. In terms of orthodontic bite correction, each patient has individual characteristics that are identified at the preparation stage. In any case, the entire process of correcting the bite can be seen in advance in the format of a computer model. When choosing aligners, patients know in advance the duration of their treatment and can assess the future result.

Aligners for bite alignment

Aligners are elastic transparent trays that are applied to the entire dentition. They resemble trays used to lighten enamel. The patient can put on and take off the aligners on their own; it doesn’t hurt at all. Unlike braces, they do not need to be worn constantly. The aligners can be removed before eating or brushing your teeth.

You can learn all about them from your orthodontist. The main purpose of aligners is to correct the bite. They apply imperceptible and painless pressure on the teeth, directing them in the desired direction. The main requirement is to wear them at least 18 hours a day. The wearing time may vary if the bite defect is too noticeable and severe. In case of serious disorders, mouth guards must be worn constantly.

Aligners are made from a synthetic transparent material. This makes them almost invisible, which is very important for those who are worried about their smile after installing braces. Also, mouth guards do not require wearing for years.

Typically, aligners are made as a set and given to the patient in several pieces. The doctor will schedule. After some time, one mouth guard is replaced by another.

The material is selected in such a way as not to injure teeth and gums, provoke an allergic reaction or cause discomfort. This is not a scam, this is the optimal solution!

Pros and cons of aligners and braces in use

Comparing aligners and braces allows you to understand the question of which technology is best to choose in your case. Each technology has its own advantages and disadvantages, and for convenience we will summarize them in a table.

As can be seen from the above comparison, aligners are more convenient in almost everything. Braces cause more discomfort, require changes in the usual lifestyle and diet, and, in fact, the only case when braces are preferable is when the patient is a child. Therefore, when choosing between braces or aligners, according to the orthodontist, it is better to prefer aligners.

Popular aligner manufacturers

Aligners are a relatively new invention in dentistry. They began to be actively used in the early 2000s. Initially, they were produced only by an American company, but then other countries began to produce high-quality aligners.

At the moment, the most popular manufacturers of aligners are:

• Star Smile. The price of these mouthguards is not that high since they do not have to be shipped from the USA. The aligners are manufactured in Moscow, but using American technology. The mouthguards are also changed every 2 weeks, the course of treatment is up to 15 months.
• Orthosnap. One of the cheapest aligners. Computer modeling is not used in their manufacture, so it is difficult to judge their effectiveness.
• Clear Correct. These mouth guards are suitable even for those who have very sensitive gums and have a reaction to synthetic materials. They are made in the USA.
• Invisalign. Invisalign appeared on the Russian market earlier than other aligners. Therefore, many dentists prefer to trust this brand. These aligners are usually changed every 2 weeks. They are highly effective, but the price is also quite high.

It is worth clarifying that in the clinic the doctor only takes pictures and modeling. The aligners themselves are manufactured in the country where the manufacturer is located.

Kinds

In dentistry, aligners are used that are practically invisible. They can be made of plastic and silicone. There are children's and adult mouthguards. In addition, mouth guards can be selected from different manufacturers that offer aligners in different price segments:

• Invisalign. They have a special unique fastening system, which makes wearing the structure quite comfortable for the patient.
• 3D-smile. Transparent designs that allow you to cope even with significant malocclusions.
• Ortosnap. The most affordable option for many due to the fact that the structure is made of plastic.

Caring for braces and aligners

If you still haven’t decided what to prefer, aligners or braces, and considering their pros and cons, pay attention to the simple rules of care in relation to transparent aligners. Experts recommend removing them from the mouth after each meal, rinsing thoroughly with water and cleaning with a brush. They have a polished surface that is not prone to deposits. In turn, due to the absence of sharp elements, it is possible to prevent the accumulation of food particles. However, there is one undesirable point - the high probability of plastic staining when drinking coffee and tea.

As for traditional braces, they are much more difficult to clean. Particles of solid food may accumulate under the arch and in the area of ​​the locks, which indicates the need to use special brushes, brushes and dental floss. In the absence of proper hygiene, deposits can provoke the appearance of carious lesions.

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Content

1 Consequences of malocclusion

2 Correction of bite after 30 years

3 Modern methods of correcting bites in adults 3.1 Correcting bites with braces

3.2 Orthodontic plates for teeth

3.3 Trainers for teeth straightening

3.4 Aligners - clear aligners

3.5 Correction of the bite surgically

3.6 Use of veneers

4 The price of bite correction at the Implantmaster clinic

Orthodontic treatment and basic devices

As you know, orthodontists are involved in identifying, eliminating and preventing dental anomalies. In their opinion, regardless of the patient’s age, there is always the opportunity to move the tooth to the right place, as well as to stimulate or inhibit the development of the bone structures on which the teeth are attached. This is due to the compliance of the supporting-retaining apparatus.

There are several ways to perform orthodontic treatment, namely:

• Conservative therapy. It consists of using special devices: braces, transparent aligners, thin overlays on teeth, etc.;
• Surgical intervention. This method is used in difficult situations when it is not possible to eliminate the defect using orthodontic appliances. However, a prerequisite after surgery is the use of braces or transparent aligners.

To understand what is better to choose after surgery—aligners or braces—you should pay attention to the following criteria.

Information about the brand and its manufacturer

The manufacturer of Invisalign aligners is the international company Align Technology, established in 1997 in the USA. It produces medical products. In addition to mouth guards, it manufactures intraoral scanners and also sells digital OrthoCAD services.

The products of this manufacturer are used by the best dental clinics in the world. The high quality of the product is confirmed by the fact that, since 1999, with their help more than 5 million people have effectively solved problems associated with occlusion.

Invisalign aligners are made from a clear polymer biosilicone. It is a medical grade thermoplastic material. It does not cause allergic reactions, and therefore products made from it are suitable for all people.

Indications and prohibitions for occlusion correction using aligners

What defects are treated with mouth guards:

• tilting or turning of teeth;
• non-critical pathologies of occlusion;
• crowded arrangement of dental elements or, on the contrary, large gaps between them.

Contraindications for installation:

• periodontal disease in the acute phase;
• mental illness;
• the presence of impacted (formed, but not erupted) dental units;
• jaw anomalies.

Indications and contraindications are identified by the dentist at a consultation after visual and hardware diagnostics. Our dental centers are equipped with all the necessary equipment to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

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Correcting the bite surgically

The absolute indications for the intervention of maxillofacial surgeons are the consequences of a pathological bite that affects the health of the body.

• Difficulty chewing food, swallowing and breathing.
• Pathological conditions of the TMJ.
• Chlo injuries.

Also, such types of pathological occlusion as mesial and distal, in some cases in adult patients, will not be completely corrected with braces. Surgery will be required to improve facial signs.

To correct the bite in adults, plastic surgery of the jaw bones is performed using surgery: tissue expansion or elimination of excess. This technique is always accompanied by additional treatment using devices (plates, braces) after surgery.

Pros. Corrects bite pathologies of any complexity.

The disadvantages are:

• traumatic;
• long rehabilitation time;
• a large number of restrictions.

But such serious disadvantages are compensated by achieving high-quality and stable results.

Using veneers

Veneers and lumineers are orthopedic onlays made of porcelain, ceramic or composite material. Correction of the bite in adults without braces will not happen with the help of veneers, but a certain masking of defects is possible.

Veneers and lumineers differ in the thickness of the plate walls. Veneers are up to 0.6 mm thick and the tooth enamel underneath must be ground off before being fixed. Lumineers are no larger than 0.3 mm and are fixed directly to the tooth without grinding, but are ineffective on large units.

Patients often wonder about correcting their bite with such overlays. Yes, they look aesthetically pleasing and have the same hygiene as your own teeth. However, it is impossible to correct the bite with veneers or lumineers, only to disguise it.

The main task of the overlays:

• align the shape and height of units in the smile area;
• hide, if any, discrepancy between the shades of fillings and enamel;
• mask interdental spaces and defects in enamel.

With the help of such orthodontic structures, you can give your smile a certain aesthetics and make it even. They last a long time, and with careful oral care they can last up to 20 years.

Correction (masking) of a bite in adults at a price will depend on the number of overlays. One such design will cost around 30 thousand rubles.

Advantages of braces systems

Braces are noticeable on the teeth when smiling and while talking, and this is one of their main disadvantages. They can cause inconvenience and a feeling of embarrassment and require adaptation and careful care. But their effectiveness easily covers these shortcomings. This technique has many advantages:

• braces are more rigid and exert strong pressure on the teeth, increasing the effectiveness of correction and accelerating the result;
• suitable for correcting dental anomalies in complex cases, where aligners are powerless;
• suitable for adults and children.

But even with their high effectiveness, the patient will have to visit the doctor repeatedly and on a regular basis, and treatment can last from several months to several years.

To minimize the aesthetic defect during treatment, you can use ceramic, sapphire or ligature braces, which are installed on the inside of the teeth. They are not so noticeable, but it is impossible to completely hide them. In addition, ligature systems may not be used in all clinical cases.

When wearing braces, you will have to comply with serious dietary restrictions. It is necessary to avoid or minimize the presence in the diet of foods that are too hard, hard and stick to the teeth.

Braces require more careful oral hygiene. The patient needs to brush not only his teeth, but also scrupulously clean all structural elements where food particles may become clogged. Otherwise, plaque will be deposited in hard-to-reach places and cause bad breath, the development of dental diseases, and caries.

When are braces installed?

• Bite disorders of any nature or complexity;
• crowded teeth;
• disproportion of jaws (one is less developed);
• dental anomalies;
• incorrect position of the dental unit (curvature, rotation around an axis);
• removal of an unerupted tooth;
• upcoming prosthetics, implantation.

Treatment with ligature devices will take 2.5-3 years

, self-ligating -
1.5-2 years
. The duration of the adjustment depends on the clinical features and system model.

Correction of bite after 30 years

In most cases, the main bite correction is performed in childhood using removable and non-removable appliances. Caring parents who have noticed abnormal growth of milk or permanent units in their children often ask orthodontists about the appropriate age range for treatment (when to start and how many years to reach it).

Not all anomalies can be corrected in the primary or mixed dentition. Sometimes you should wait until 12–14 years of age, when the bone structures are formed but still plastic. Then it is possible to carry out quick and effective treatment. However, while waiting for therapy, the child already accepts his appearance as is, not paying attention to crooked units. Problems make themselves known much later (after 40 years), when pain occurs in the TMJ, thinned enamel becomes sensitive, multiple caries occurs, difficulty breathing, and migraines appear.

Therefore, if bite correction was not carried out as a teenager, then it is not too late to correct a malocclusion in an adult at 30 years old. And the most important thing that a patient of any age should hear from an orthodontist is that it is never too late to start correcting the bite.

Of course, the older you get, the harder it is mentally and physically. However, by taking care of your smile, the patient will immediately solve many health problems that bother him, and will also look younger. It is not easy to get ready to wear braces for a long time, usually used on teenagers. However, in the orthodontic field, a lot of different equipment has appeared that will not be visible when worn and is an alternative to braces. Highly qualified orthodontists at Implantmaster will select the appropriate design and treatment plan specifically for your case.

What is cheaper – braces or aligners?

Consultation with an orthodontist

• X-ray panoramic image
• Oral examination
• Drawing up a treatment plan with costs

Price : 2,000 ₽
*if treatment continues in the clinic according to the plan, the consultation is not paid

If you are wondering what to choose - aligners or braces - price is not always the main selection criterion. In some cases, the cost of treatment with standard orthodontic systems and transparent aligners can be the same. For example, if we are talking about the use of sapphire or ceramic bracket systems, the prices for them are considered identical to aligners. Ligature devices made of metal are considered more affordable in cost.

There are differences in payment procedures:

1. A set of transparent trays necessary for the complete correction process is manufactured at a time. After this, they are transferred to the patient. The need to visit a specialist is present only once every two months - for consultation.
2. If you use traditional braces, at each return visit to the orthodontist you will need to pay an additional fee for replacing certain elements.

In turn, a negative point when treating with transparent aligners is the increased likelihood of damage or loss. Sometimes there is a need to replace them - in case of significant cracks or a noticeable change in shade. Braces are also susceptible to fractures. Often, carious lesions may appear under such devices, which requires additional treatment costs.

In Implantmaster dentistry, the cost of installing transparent aligners has a lower limit of 350 thousand rubles. When fixing ceramic or metal braces in our clinic, you will have to pay from 250 thousand rubles.

Operating principle of the devices

For one course of corrective therapy, several copies of trays are made, each of which differs in minor changes in the positioning of dental units. The number of sets (from 10 to 40) and the step of geometric parameters are calculated on a computer using special software, which calculates distances and angles of movement with perfect accuracy.

The essence of corrective therapy with aligners is to create constant soft physical pressure, which forces the dental elements to move in a given direction. The bone tissue dissolves in the direction of the impact, the teeth move a little, and where they were before, new bone tissue is formed.

As intermediate stages are completed, the patient himself changes the aligners in strict accordance with the numbering of the copies.