Common issues in clear aligner treatment

For more information about common issues in clear aligner treatment, refer to the following:

• Overview
• Pre-treatment issues
• Issues during treatment
• Post-treatment issues

Overview

The predictability and success of clear aligner treatment is dependent upon a number of factors:

• A proper diagnosis and treatment plan
• Optimal patient compliance (wearing aligners as directed)
• Diligent monitoring of the treatment progress by the doctor
• Knowing what to do when things don’t go as planned, a.k.a. “troubleshooting”

Because there are variables that can affect clear aligner treatment and make it unpredictable, it is important to know, what the more common issues are that can arise with clear aligners and what to do about them.

In this course we will cover issues that can arise pre-treatment, during treatment, post-treatment and what actions can be taken to troubleshoot each of these issues.

ClearCorrect is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry. The formal continuing dental education  programs of this program provider are accepted by AGD for Fellowship, Mastership and membership maintenance credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial board of dentistry or AGD endorsement. The current term of approval extends from 4/1/2015 to 3/31/2019. Provider ID 304173.

Pre-treatment issues

Following are some common pre-treatment issues to consider when treating patients with clear aligners.

• Missing teeth
• Abnormal tooth morphology
• Extreme crowding
• Anterior openbite
• Crossbites
• Extreme rotations
• TMD
• Periodontal issues
• Potential for black triangles
• Large tongue

Issues during treatment

Following are some common issues that can occur during treatment.

• Patient non-compliance
• Aligners are uncomfortable
• Aligners don’t fit – Incisal gaps
• Aligners don’t fit – Too big or too small
• Aligners don’t fit – Rocking (Fits one side but does not seat on the other)
• Aligners are not tracking
• Tight interproximal contacts

Post-treatment issues

Following are some common post-treatment issues to consider when treating patients with clear aligners.

• Incomplete rotations
• Residual spacing
• Posterior openbite
• Issues with difficult movements
• Following are some difficult movements that more commonly have issues.
• Intrusions
• Extrusions
• Rotations
• Uprighting molars