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Treatment planning protocols with the Invisalign appliance: an exploratory survey
The Angle Orthodontist
|May 18, 2023
Summary
Orthodontists frequently modify Invisalign digital treatment plans (DTPs), increasing aligner prescriptions, composite attachments, and interproximal reduction. These changes are more pronounced in extraction cases, indicating significant adjustments from initial plans to final accepted protocols.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Dental Technology
Background:
- Digital treatment planning (DTP) is integral to clear aligner therapy.
- Align Technology's Invisalign system is widely used for orthodontic treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze modifications made by orthodontists to initial Invisalign digital treatment plans (DTPs).
- To quantify changes in aligner prescription, composite resin (CR) attachments, and interproximal reduction (IPR) from initial to accepted DTPs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 431 Invisalign DTPs meeting inclusion criteria.
- Comparison of initial DTPs with orthodontist-accepted plans.
- Statistical analysis of prescription changes using GraphPad Prism 9.0.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in the number of prescribed aligners, CR attachments, and IPR were observed between initial and accepted DTPs.
- Extraction cases required more DTPs and showed greater increases in CR attachments compared to nonextraction cases.
- The number of teeth requiring CR attachments and IPR increased significantly from initial to accepted plans.
Conclusions:
- Orthodontists implement substantial changes to initial Invisalign DTPs.
- Treatment complexity, particularly in extraction cases, influences the extent of DTP modifications.
- These findings highlight the dynamic nature of clear aligner treatment planning.
