Clear alignment , also known as clear-aligner treatment , is an orthodontic device that is a form of a transparent tooth made from a plastic used to fit a tooth. There are about 27 products available including ClearCorrect and Invisalign.
Clear alignment has changed, making effectiveness judgments difficult. The systematic review of 2014 concludes that published research does not have sufficient quality to determine its effectiveness. Experience shows that they are effective for moderate density of the front teeth, but are less effective than conventional braces for some other problems and are not recommended for children. In particular they are indicated for "mild to moderate (1-6 mm) and medium to moderate (1-6 mm)", in cases where there is no jawbone difference. They are also indicated for patients who have experienced relapse after fixed orthodontic treatment.
Clear-alignment treatment involves a dentist or dentist, or with a home based system, the person himself, taking a patient's dental mold, which is used to make digital dental scans. The computerized model shows the stages between the current and desired gear positions, and the alignment is made for each stage. Each straightener is charged for 20 hours a day for two weeks. It slowly shifts the teeth to an agreed position between the orthodontist/dentist and the patient. The average treatment time is 13.5 months. Despite patent infringement litigation, no manufacturer has received orders against other manufacturers.
Video Clear aligners
Usage
A systematic review of 2014 concludes that there is insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of this clear alignment. The opinion is that they may be useful for moderate front teeth. In those with teeth that are too far forward or backward, or rotated in the socket, the straightener may not be as effective as conventional braces. More cases of recurrence of anterior teeth have been found with clear alignment compared with conventional braces. A review of Cochrane 2013 found no high-quality evidence regarding the management of late-front misalignment tooth loss after treatment.
Clear alignment is more visible than lingual braces, but can be removed, which facilitates tooth cleaning, and is faster for dentists to apply.
Apps
Treatment begins by taking x-rays, photos, enrollment bites, and impressions of polyvinyl siloxane teeth and gums of the person. The dentist/orthodontist completes a written evaluation that includes a diagnosis and treatment plan. Traces of teeth scanned to create 3D representations of teeth digitally. The technician moves the tooth to the desired location with the Treat program, which creates the stage between the current and desired gear position. Anywhere from six to forty-eight straighteners may be needed. Each straightener moves the.25 to.33 millimeter gear.
The computer graphic representation of projected gear movements, made in ClinCheck software programs, is given to doctors and patients for approval or modification before the straightener is produced. The aligners are modeled using CAD-CAM (computer-aided-design and computer-assisted-manufacturing) software and are manufactured using a rapid prototyping technique called stereolithography. Molds for straighteners are built in layers using a photo-sensitive liquid resin that heals into hard plastic when exposed to a laser. The aligners are made of elastic thermoplastic materials that apply pressure to the teeth to move to the aligned position. Patients who need a tooth that is rotated or pulled down may have a small, dental composite bond attached to certain teeth. More attachments can make the alignment less aesthetic. Reproximation, (also called interproximal reduction or IPR and colloquially, archiving or drilling), is sometimes used on contact between teeth to allow for better adjustment.
Each alignment is intended to be subject to an optimal 22 hours a day for two weeks. The average treatment process takes 13.5 months. Treatment times vary based on the complexity of the planned tooth movement. The aligner is removed for brushing, flossing and feeding. After the treatment period is complete, the patient is advised to continue wearing the retainer at night for the future.
When the Invisalign system was first developed, many aligning manufacturing processes were done by hand, and computer technicians had to modify each gear in individual computer models.
Maps Clear aligners
Manufacturer
Align Technology
Invisalign is manufactured by Align Technology, a multinational medical equipment company headquartered in San Jose, California. A clear corporate alignment system has been used to treat more than 3 million patients.
The company was founded in 1997 by Zia Chishti. Chishti understands the basic design of InvisAlign while the orthodontic patient is an adult. During his treatment with a courtier intended to complete his treatment, he argued that a series of such devices could affect a large final placement in a series of small movements. He partnered with Kelsey Wirth to search for developers.
Invisalign was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998, and sales began in the US in 1999. $ 140 million in venture capital was raised from 1997 to 2000, and another $ 130 million in an initial public offering in 2001. In 2014, for Align Technology, 2.4 million people worldwide have been treated with Invisalign, and 80,000 dentists have been trained how to use it.
Orthodontists were resistant to adopting Invisalign initially, especially since the founders lacked orthodontic credentials or expertise, but the product became popular among consumers. In 2000 Align Technology planned a $ 31 million television advertising campaign that The New York Times said would be "the most aggressive consumer advertising plan a dental profession ever sees". The Company raised about $ 140 million in funding over four rounds from 1997 to 2000. $ 130 million in additional funding was raised in 2001 through an initial public offering on NASDAQ. In 2001, 75 percent of the 8,500 orthodontists in North America had been trained on the Invisalign system. That same year, Align Technology made Invisalign available to general dentists after a class action suit allegedly making the system available only to orthodontists resulting in unhealthy competition for dentists.
In the early 2000s, Align Technology spent almost all of its revenue on marketing and advertising, and lost about $ 18 million annually. Founders Wirth and Chishti resigned from Align Technology in 2001 and 2003, with Thomas Prescott replacing Chishti as CEO in March 2002. Prescott refocused the company in North America and cut its marketing budget to about one-third of its original size.
The Invisalign system grew from 80,000 patients in 2002 to 175,000 in 2004. It won several awards for stereolithography, medical design and rapid growth. Align Technology was profitable for the first time in 2003. In 2005 the company expanded to Japan, and acquired General Orthodontic, an orthodontic company that supports physicians who prescribe Invisalign systems. Later that year the Harvard School of Dental Medicine began requiring that orthodontic graduate students complete the Invisalign certification before they graduate.
Invisalign Express 10, which uses 10 straighteners, was introduced in 2005. Invisalign 1.5 was released in 2009. This was followed by Invisalign G3 in 2010 and G4 in 2011. Invisalign G3 and G4 are designed for more complex maintenance. The Invisalign Express 5 version, which uses 5 straighteners, was introduced in 2012. In February 2014, Align Technology released a G5 product designed to treat deep bites.
Support, software engineering, pre-production and administration functions are conducted from Align Technology headquarters in California. Invisalign alignment is done in Mexico and care plans are made in Costa Rica. Align Technology also operates a separate subsidiary in Hong Kong and Australia which sells Invisalign in their respective markets. Align Technology provides training and certification to physicians.
In 2007, the General Dentistry Academy approved the Align Technology Approval Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE). The company also created the AlignTech Institute, which provides educational resources for doctors. In March 2011 Align Technology acquired Cadent System, Inc., a dentist company, for $ 190 million.
Orthoclear
Zia Chishti was ousted from Align Technology in 2002. In 2005 he developed Orthoclear, a similar product, which resulted in several legal disputes involving alleged patent infringement, false advertising, defamation, and trademark infringement. The case was resolved in 2006. Align paid OrthoClear $ 20 million and OrthoClear agreed to terminate its operation.
ClearCorrect
ClearCorrect, LLC, based in Round Rock, Texas, was established in 2006. The company distributes its products throughout the United States, and in 2011 was named the fastest-growing healthcare company in America by the magazine Inc. . It has been reported that by 2017 its alignment system has been used to treat about 80,000 patients.
ClearCorrect was founded in Houston, Texas, by Willis Pumphrey, Jr., a dentist. In 2001, Pumphrey started using Invisalign. He decides to switch to OrthoClear, because the way OrthoClear produces its straightener and because of the reduced lab costs. When the manufacture of Orthoclear stopped, Pumphrey had 400 patients in the treatment. With no other options available, he started his own company to complete clear patient care.