For Engagers - FAQs, refer to the following:

NOTE: ClearCorrect is a medical device manufacturer. Treatment decisions and case diagnosis are entirely the responsibility of the prescribing doctor. 

• Can I change the amount or angle of the engager bevel?
• Why is it recommended to place engagers on the adjacent teeth for intrusions?
• Do engagers have to be used in aligner treatment or can a case be done without them?
• What can I do if an engager is lost or falls off during treatment?
• Are different size engagers available?
• Are different depths for engagers available?
• Are different engager shapes available?
• How do you place engagers when the teeth are very crowded?
• How can I avoid the engager from wearing down over time?
• What is the best material to use for engagers?
• How do you place engagers without them overfilling?
• What is the best way to deal with excess flash from the engager?
• It's sometimes hard to remove the engager template. What is the best way to do this?
• How do I attach an engager to a decalcified tooth?
• How do I attach engagers to teeth that are significantly lingually inclined?
• What is the best way to remove engagers?

Can I change the amount or angle of the engager bevel?

No, the amount or angulation of the engager bevel cannot be changed at this time.

Why is it recommended to place engagers on the adjacent teeth for intrusions?

If an engager is only placed on the tooth being intruded, there won’t be anything holding the aligner securely in place. The aligner is likely to lift off the adjacent teeth, instead of pushing the targeted tooth down. When you place engagers on the adjacent teeth, they hold the aligner in place, and the targeted tooth is intruded.

Do engagers have to be used in aligner treatment or can a case be done without them?

The technician provides a recommendation for engagers in treatment. If they are being recommended, there is a valid reason to use them. However, since it is the clinician that has the ultimate say whether to use engagers, it is possible to treat some patients without their use. The high and flat trimline of ClearCorrect’s aligners are more than 2.5x more retentive* than scalloped aligners, and reduce or eliminate the need for engagers.

What can I do if an engager is lost or falls off during treatment?

You can use the previous or current tray as an engager template to replace the lost engager.

Are different size engagers available?

Yes, ClearCorrect offers 3 different sizes of engagers: 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm engagers.

Are different depths for engagers available?

Yes, ClearCorrect offers 2 different depths for each shape of engager. For horizontal engagers, 0.75mm and 1.00 mm. For vertical engagers, 1.00 mm and 1.25 mm.

Are different engager shapes available?

No. ClearCorrect offers only rectangular shaped engagers, in two different orientations: Vertical and Horizontal.

How do you place engagers when the teeth are very crowded?

For extremely crowded cases you can request for engagers to be placed later in treatment to allow for some improvement of the crowding to occur before placing engagers.

How can I avoid the engager from wearing down over time?

Some materials can wear faster than others. A filled resin, as opposed to an unfilled resin, is suggested for a more wear resistant engager.

What is the best material to use for engagers?

In general, a flowable and paste-type composite are good for engagers. However, one should consider wear factors such as patients with heavy occlusion that may require a filled or hybrid material that is more resistant to wear.

How do you place engagers without them overfilling?

A suggestion to help prevent the engager from overfilling is to puncture the engager bubble on the labial side with an explorer or a needle to create a vent and allow excess material to release before light curing.

What is the best way to deal with excess flash from the engager?

Excess flash is generally removed with a multi-fluted carbide burr and should be removed as it can lift the aligner slightly if it remains, which could in turn affect the aligner fit and cause tracking issues.

It’s sometimes hard to remove the engager template. What is the best way to do this?

The applying of petroleum jelly or mineral oil to the inner surface of the engager bubble usually helps to release the engager from the template. You can also try sectioning the template and using the segmented template to place the engagers.

How do I attach an engager to a decalcified tooth?

It’s very difficult to bond to a severely decalcified tooth. Glass ionomer materials may help.

How do I attach engagers to teeth that are significantly lingually inclined?

For lingually inclined teeth you can request for engagers to be placed later in treatment to allow for some improvement of the lingual inclination to occur before placing engagers.

What is the best way to remove engagers?

A multi-fluted carbide burr is generally the best tool to remove engagers.

480.1023_en_01