Priyanka Saokar Navale
Introduction: The technology behind aligner is the cutting-edge, but the idea of using a series of appliances to move teeth is not new to orthodontics. In 1945, Dr. Kesling first described the concept of moving teeth using a series of planned, individual stages. With the advent of the computer age, Align Technology has developed Kesling's vision into a practical method of orthodontic treatment.
Advantages and disadvantages
How does it work??
Two primary system of creating a tooth-moving force in the Essix appliance.
1) Hilliard thermopliers: (Dr. keith hilliard, florida)
Alters the appliance by spot-therm oforming it.
2) Mounding system: does not involve altering the appliance to induce force. It is sequential placement of small mounds (layers) of bonding composit to the surface of the tooth.
History of aligners?
Who? Where? When? How? Whole aligner system evolved.Zia Christi and and Kelsey Wirth, graduate students in, Stanford University's MBA program. Zia Chishti had finished adult treatment with traditional braces, and wore a clear plastic retainer. He noticed that if he did not wear his retainer for a few days, his teeth shifted slightly but the plastic retainer soon moved his teeth back the desired position. Together they started Align Technologies in April 1997 and with the help of a handful of forward thinking orthodontists, they applied 3D computer imaging graphics and created the Envisaging method.Patient education and clinical procedures to be followed with this aligner system. Lab procedure from impressions to final set of aligners.
Stereo lithography an orthodontic product like Invisalign requires from 6 to 40 sequential appliances per arch; manual fabrication of this many appliances would be prohibitively expensive, and it would be difficult to maintain the required accuracy. Instead, Align Technology uses stereo lithography technology to create its reference models Stereo lithography is a rapid prototyping process by which a product is created using an Ultraviolet (UV) curable liquid resin polymer and advanced laser technology. Each stage of treatment is converted into a physical model with a machine called a stereo lithography apparatus (SLA).
Conclusion
It’s never late to learn a new thing. Aligner technique is considered as evolution in orthodontics and it has many advantages. This technique allows equal participation of patient in treatment planning. With this change, the orthodontist is a caregiver and the patient is an informed care consumer, and both become equal participants in the relationship. These factors will provoke the dissolution of the doctor-centered practice and place great importance on the patient-centered practice as well.
