Treatment with aligners

What are aligners: pros and cons

Mouthguards or orthodontic aligners are one of the most useful novelties in dentistry, which have recently become particularly popular. Orthodontists all over the world use these ortho designs to correct certain bite defects as an alternative to braces or to consolidate treatment results with brace systems.

In this article, you will find everything you need to know about orthodontic mouthguards: what aligners are in dentistry, to whom they are suitable and to whom they are contraindicated, how they are installed, how they are worn, how long the treatment lasts. We will talk about the differences and advantages of ortho treatment with aligners compared to braces, and we hope that this information will help you better understand modern bite correction technologies.

What are aligners

Aligners are caps that are put on all the teeth of the upper or lower jaw, made of a transparent polymer material. This is a removable orthodontic structure that gently affects the dentition and helps to eliminate small defects in the position of the teeth.

The materials used in the manufacture of orthodontic caps are hypoallergenic and safe for the health of patients. Thanks to the transparency of the material, the orthodontic construction on your teeth remains invisible to others.

What you need to know about treatment with aligners:

structures are removable – they are usually worn during the day and removed only at night, for hygienic procedures and while eating;
it is recommended to wear mouthguards for at least 18 hours a day, but there are designs that are designed for shorter wear (night or children’s, which are worn for 4-8 hours);
periodically, in the process of aligning the tooth row, mouthguards must be changed to harder ones (the course of treatment may include from 2 to 30 changes of aligners).

Orthodontic aligners indications and contraindications

Until recently, mouthguards were used to eliminate the simplest and minor bite disorders. Modern aligners successfully correct such pathologies:

open bite – lack of closure between the side or front teeth;
crossbite – a shift of the lower jaw to the side;
mesial bite – the teeth of the lower jaw protrude forward;
deep bite – excessive protrusion of the upper jaw forward, due to which the front teeth of the upper row overlap the incisors of the lower row of teeth.

With the help of aligners can be corrected:

diastema, three;
crowding of teeth;
incorrect location of the lower and upper jaw in relation to each other (displacement to the sides, back, forward);
dystopian teeth (turned around their axis);
shifting the chin forward or backward;
not closing the jaws.

In addition, aligners are indicated for patients who have undergone orthodontic treatment with braces. In this case, they are used in retraction therapy (to fix the result).

Who are aligners suitable for?

As for age, orthodontic aligners are a universal tool for correcting the bite. It is suitable for both adults and children. Usually, aligners for children are used at the age of 6-12. But when choosing this method of treatment, parents must be 100% sure that the child is ready to follow the rules and will not remove the mouth guard when left unattended. Responsibility and self-discipline are an important point in the treatment with aligners, because to achieve the result, you need to wear the construction for a certain number of hours a day.

Aligners for adults are recommended for patients:

if they have a minor malocclusion;
if there are contraindications for treatment with braces (allergy to metal).

Aligners are contraindicated

Orthodontic aligners or mouthguards for aligning teeth are not used under such conditions:

the presence of unerupted teeth;
the presence of dental deposits on the enamel;
acute form of periodontitis;
severe mental and neurological diseases;
complex orthodontic defects.

Aligners pros and cons

The main advantage provided by aligners is the correction of the bite, restoration of the physiologically correct position of the organs of the dento-maxillofacial apparatus. At the same time, orthodontic mouthguards eliminate the complications characteristic of bite defects:

constantly open mouth;
problems with diction and articulation disorders;
asymmetry of facial features;
unpleasant sensations, problems with chewing food;
headaches caused by temporomandibular joint dysfunction;
tendency to abrasion, development of periodontitis.

Other benefits of aligners:

quick and easy installation;
quick getting used to it (in just 3-4 days);
painless correction of bite defects;
the possibility of simultaneous orthodontic treatment and whitening (for this, it is enough to fill the mouthpieces with a special whitening preparation before installation);
safe, non-toxic materials that do not cause irritation and allergic reactions;
a large selection of designs and the possibility of manufacturing individual aligners;
simple care;
comfortable wearing;
no restrictions in the choice of products.

Invisible aligners are often chosen by public people to correct some pathologies of the bite, since the mouthpieces do not spoil the aesthetics of the smile and do not affect diction.

Aligners: cons

If you compare aligners and braces, aligners are inferior in some respects. The disadvantages of orthodontic caps include:

the need to remove the structure before eating, smoking, eating hot dishes, which is not always convenient and appropriate;
constant self-monitoring – you need to wear the aligners long enough to get the result, but the mouthpieces are removable, so there is a possibility that the patient will forget or lose them;
in case of loss or damage, the restoration of the structure can take from a week to a month (depending on the manufacturer);
ineffective in the treatment of complex bite pathologies;
unlike braces, cannot be used to align individual teeth in the dental row.

How aligners are installed

Installation of aligners does not require great effort and moral feat from the patient, as in the case of installation of a bracket system. The advantage and peculiarity of orthodontic caps is that both at the stage of preparation and at the stage of installation and even during wearing, pain or long-term discomfort is excluded.

Stages of installation of aligners:

Diagnostics – examination and analysis of the state of the maxillofacial system in order to determine the expediency and possibility of treatment with aligners. At this stage, the orthodontist determines the treatment plan.
Creation of a 3D image of the jaw (research methods panoramic X-ray, dental scanner).
Sending the results of the scan to the dental laboratory, where, based on the image, dental technicians design a virtual model of the patient’s maxillofacial apparatus, as it should be according to the results of treatment.
Demonstration of the final model to the patient, discussion, agreement and making final adjustments.
Making aligners in the laboratory. All work is performed automatically and controlled by the software.
Installation of aligners. During this visit, the dentist gives the patient recommendations on oral hygiene, wearing and caring for mouthguards, and sets the date of the next visit to replace the ortho design.

Usually, a repeat visit to the dental clinic takes place 2-3 weeks after the aligners are installed.

Why do you need to change mouthguards? Each new design fits better to the teeth, is stiffer than the previous one and provides greater mechanical impact on the dentition.

Types of aligners. Which aligners are better?

According to the type of construction, they are used in dentistry:

Standard mouthguards (trainers) are made without taking into account the individual features of the jaw structure. Intended for the treatment of minimal bite disorders.
Thermoplastic – universal due to the fact that they can be adjusted to the patient’s dentition (before installation, they are placed in warm water, heated aligners become very plastic, easily fix on the teeth and tightly fit the entire dentition).
Individual aligners are the most effective, as they are made for each patient individually based on the results of a scan of the maxillofacial apparatus.

How long should aligners be worn?

Fully erupted teeth have a complex structure, firmly fixed in the jaw. It takes a lot of effort to make them turn around and line up with other teeth.

Bite correction using orthodontic caps is a multi-stage process, but it is thanks to this consistent approach that the treatment is painless for the patient and gives good results. Each mouthguard affects the teeth and causes them to change their position. Depending on the characteristics of the patient’s pathology and the set goals, it can take from 6 months to 2 years to achieve the final result. The orthodontist can determine the exact plan and terms of treatment based on the results of the first consultation and diagnosis.

Features of wearing and caring for orthodontic mouthguards

Ease of care is one of the advantages of aligners. To maintain mouthguards in working condition and ensure high-quality oral hygiene, you must follow the following rules:

aligners must be removed before eating, snacking, brushing teeth;
when the mouthpieces are not in use, they must be stored in a special box with ventilation holes;
wash mouthguards once or twice a day under warm running water;
do not chew gum with aligners;
clean teeth thoroughly, remove food residues between teeth with floss, before re-installing mouthguards to avoid infection developing under the ortho design.

How to put on and how to take off aligners?

The procedure for installing and removing aligners is very simple. To put on mouthguards, they are first fixed on the front teeth, and then move to the distant ones. Mouthguards are removed on the contrary – first from the extreme chewing teeth and gradually free all teeth towards the front ones.

Comparing braces and aligners, it is not possible to say unequivocally which of these tools of orthodontic treatment is better. Invisible mouthguards show excellent results in correcting the bite in certain clinical situations. If you want to correct the defects of the dentition and become the owner of a flawless smile, consult a qualified specialist of the NOWA Dental Clinic. An experienced orthodontist will advise you on questions about modern bite correction techniques and offer the most effective treatment option, taking into account your individual problem.