Clear Aligner Treatment Ankara, Turkey

Clear Aligner Treatment Turkey

Digital solutions created by new technologies are also coming to the forefront in the dental field. Clear aligners, which have replaced the previously preferred method of braces, eliminate both aesthetic and health problems in the teeth.

Dr. Yaman Güray emphasizes that clear aligner treatment can be applied at any age, as it does not affect a person’s social life. Güray states that with clear aligners, orthodontic problems can be resolved without patients experiencing any aesthetic concerns.

Dr. Güray notes that patients often experience aesthetic concerns due to misaligned teeth and avoid smiling. He highlights that clear aligners are one of the best ways to eliminate these concerns.

Güray also mentions that orthodontic problems can cause serious issues, especially in terms of aesthetics, and stresses the importance of every patient, regardless of age, consulting an orthodontist for the necessary examinations to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

What Is Clear Aligner Treatment?

Clear aligner treatment is a digitally planned treatment designed specifically for the patient. In this treatment, an orthodontic method is applied using a series of plastic aligners that are custom-made, removable by the patient, and move the teeth. Clear aligner treatment is not tied to a specific brand but is a different orthodontic technique than fixed braces treatments. Clear aligners, which allow the comfortable treatment of various orthodontic disorders with today’s technologies, are an orthodontic treatment method.

What Is The Difference Between Clear Aligners And Braces?

Although both clear aligners and braces are orthodontic treatment methods that move teeth, they differ in many ways. Braces treatment involves brackets bonded to the teeth, wires running through the brackets, and various force elements, and cannot be removed during the treatment period.

Clear aligner treatment, on the other hand, is a treatment method where the patient wears aligners at every stage, only removing them during meals, and progresses by changing the aligners step by step. Clear aligners are both aesthetic and comfortable. To increase the retention of the aligners and ensure the effectiveness of the planned tooth movement, we bond tooth-colored composite attachments, called ‘Attachments’ or ‘Engagers,’ to the teeth. These attachments, which are hardly noticeable, are almost half the size of braces, even at their largest.

Moreover, since the aligners can be removed during meals, there’s no need to deal with food particles getting stuck between the wires, as with braces treatments. Therefore, aligners are also more advantageous in terms of hygiene compared to traditional treatments. The fact that aligners can be removed for special occasions such as business meetings, parties, and weddings offers a level of comfort that braces cannot provide.

From a doctor's perspective, I can say that clear aligner treatment offers many advantages over braces treatments. Since the aligners work by pushing the teeth, we can now easily perform many treatments that would have required tooth extraction to create space in fixed braces treatments. We don’t say that we never extract teeth in clear aligner treatments, but we can say that the number of cases planned with extractions has decreased. Depending on the complexity of the planned treatment, the patient’s compliance, and the doctor’s experience with clear aligners, it’s possible to complete treatments with fewer appointments. In fact, we can even conduct treatments remotely through online check-ups.

What Ages Are Clear Aligners Suitable For?

Clear aligners are suitable for patients in the primary dentition, mixed dentition, and permanent dentition stages, who have healthy teeth and bone structure, and most importantly, are conscious enough to use the aligners properly.

Are clear aligners suitable for children? When is the first examination period recommended for children? What age range do you recommend for clear aligner treatments in growing and adult patients?

The use of clear aligners in children is even more important than in adults due to both social and biological factors. Children can be cruel to each other. If we consider that children who wear glasses are often called ‘four-eyes’ almost until high school, the behavior faced by children undergoing orthodontic treatment can also cause deep emotional scars. In clear aligner treatment, where we can move not only teeth but even jaws, there are comfortable yet carefully considered points.

Based on patient feedback, we can say that there is much less pain compared to braces treatments. It is very clear that aligners are a comfortable treatment method. Thanks to their aesthetic and biological advantages, children also enjoy completing this process. The first orthodontic examination period for children is between 4 and 5 years old. Depending on the orthodontic disorder encountered or anticipated, clear aligner treatments can start as early as 6–7 years old. For adult patients, anyone with healthy teeth and bone structure, regardless of age, can undergo clear aligner treatment.

In Which Cases Are Clear Aligners Used?

Clear aligners can be applied to all types of orthodontic and orthopedic irregularities. Examples include simple to complex treatments, severe crowding, extraction and non-extraction treatments, jaw treatments during growth development, and surgical treatments.

How Does The Clear Aligner Treatment Process Work?

As with all orthodontic treatments, the clear aligner treatment process begins with the initial examination in the clinic. In clear aligner treatment, digital planning is done using analog or digital impressions taken from the patient. Any dental intervention performed on the teeth after the impressions are taken will hinder the adaptation of the custom-made aligners. Therefore, if dental procedures such as fillings or tartar cleaning are needed, these should be prioritized before orthodontic treatment.

We manage and monitor the entire planning phase digitally, from taking photographs and oral impressions to the delivery of the aligners. One of the most enjoyable parts of the planning phase for both orthodontists and patients is being able to simulate and show the final result of the treatment from the very beginning and evaluate it together with the patient. This is one of the greatest joys for us doctors.

How Long Should Clear Aligners Be Worn?

Since planned tooth movements occur while the aligners are worn, the success of the treatment depends on patient compliance. Therefore, the ideal daily usage duration is 20 to 22 hours. Depending on the type of planned tooth movement, its difficulty, and patient compliance, we recommend aligner changes every week, 10 days, or 14 days.

What has been the biggest digital transformation in orthodontics for you, and do you expect artificial intelligence to have an impact in this field?

Digitalization is a part of life and has had and continues to have a significant impact on dentistry and orthodontics, just like in every other field. If we recall that 40 years ago, teeth were moved using thick metal bands placed between each tooth and wires bent by hand, we can see the difficulties faced by both patients and doctors. Now, those challenging treatments have been replaced by completely digitally planned treatments and plastics without wires, brackets, or bands. With the rapid advancements in science, technology, and health, I hope that in the future, artificial intelligence and robots will not entirely replace us orthodontists.