They Say Clear Aligners Don’t Work...? (Reasons for Poor Treatment in Clear Aligner Orthodontics)

Poor Treatment in Clear Aligner Orthodontics

Clear aligner effect

No clear aligner effect

Clear aligners are made of transparent plastic material,

and unlike conventional wire orthodontics such as

metal braces, ceramic braces, and self-ligating braces,

there are no thin wires, screws, or wires,

so problems such as wire poking, wire coming loose, bracket detachment,

speech issues, foreign-body sensation, and injuries do not occur,

providing comfort and aesthetics in many ways.

Clear aligner appliances are said to be highly effective

for crooked teeth and various malocclusions,

so where does the saying “no clear aligner effect” come from?

Limitations of clear aligners

In fact, clear aligners have limitations,

though they are more convenient than conventional wire orthodontics.

Depending on the case, they may not be suitable for extraction orthodontic treatment,

and there are limitations in extrusion, rotation, and distal tipping control.

That is why a treatment plan from the medical team

that can compensate for the limitations of clear aligners is important,

and even after clear aligner treatment ends,

follow-up care is needed so that the clear aligner effect can be fully realized.

Reasons poor treatment occurs

In the past, clear aligners were made by dental technicians by hand,

but with advances in medical technology,

they have gradually become digital,

and because they are much more precise and effective than hand-made clear aligners,

most clear aligners are now produced digitally.

The digital clear aligner production method

inputs the result values into a computer,

automatically generates the intermediate stages,

and then prints them directly with a 3D printer.

At this stage, setup by a clinician with extensive orthodontic expertise is necessary,

variables that may arise along the way must be addressed,

and smooth communication with the appliance manufacturing company is required.

If not, and if the aligners are produced relying only on digital equipment

without the clinician’s input,

poor treatment with no clear aligner effect may occur.

To avoid poor treatment

To avoid such poor treatment,

it is good to consider the following points.

Diagnosis at three or more clinics

If most clinics say clear aligner treatment is not possible,

but only one clinic says it is possible,

you may want to question the clinician’s judgment.

Detailed explanation of the treatment plan

Method of appliance fabrication

(whether it is produced based on step-by-step clinician feedback

or whether the entire appliance is made from a single set of result values)

Please ask for a detailed explanation of how any variables will be handled

and how the limitations of clear aligners will be compensated for.

Customized diagnosis

A customized diagnosis means

not only considering the patient’s condition, situation, and environment,

but also deciding whether clear aligners are appropriate under the clinician’s judgment,

choosing the brand that best fits the patient’s needs,

and including prediction accuracy after treatment for each individual.

To avoid poor treatment, Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic

The key to clear aligner effect

therefore depends on the clinician’s expertise.

Diagnosis

Treatment plan

Setup

Appliance fabrication

Treatment process

Treatment completion

Treatment support

Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic takes responsibility for all of these processes

with a strong sense of mission.

New smile

New beginning

This is Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic.