Raising the Aligner Bar Another Notch Higher
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Raising the Aligner Bar Another Notch Higher

Raising the Aligner Bar Another Notch Higher

ClearCorrect boosts its clear aligner therapy with innovative and supportive tools and software that can help dentists send their patients out the door with straighter smiles

 

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YAN KALIKA, DMD, MS

Dr. Kalika graduated with honors and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California at Berkeley in 1993, majoring in chemistry. He received his dental degree from Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1998 and completed his orthodontic training at the University of California at San Francisco where he received a specialty certificate in orthodontics and facial orthopedics and a master’s degree in oral biology. He is a certified specialist in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics and an active member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontics, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics, and the San Francisco Dental Society. Dr. Kalika is an assistant clinical professor at UCSF Orthodontic Department, CEO of Image Specialty Partners, and a KOL at Straumann.

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Innovator” and “Educator” are respected epithets that usually stand alone when bequeathed on noteworthy recipients. In fact, it’s rare to be called both at the same time. But that’s exactly the case with ClearCorrect clear aligner therapy. “The story of how Straumann Group’s ClearCorrect clear aligners deserve this recognition comes down to the brand doing 2 important things: educating and innovating,” shared Yan Kalika, DMD, MS, in San Francisco, CA. “Since I began using these aligners over a year ago, I’ve finished several hundred cases and seen tremendous progress in terms of not only innovation, but also the ability to educate doctors and support them with collaborative tools that allow us to interact with a multidisciplinary team of general dentists and specialists,” he said.

 

Innovative Enhancements

 

ClearCorrect recently took that focus a step further with a series of product enhancements, beginning with ClearPilot 7.0, which is jam-packed with new tools and features designed to ensure successful patient outcomes. In addition, the ClearCorrect aligner method now features several new add-ons, including posterior bite ramps, a new engager template material, active case upgrades, and extended beveled engagers.

 

Posterior Bite Ramps

 

Thermoformed protrusions in the aligner that hold the arches out of occlusion, bite ramps prevent the opposing arch from interfering with tooth movements. In clear aligners, bite ramps are similar to engagers, although they are not intended to be filled with composite. While anterior bite ramps continue  to be offered in treatment plans, ClearCorrect aligner therapy now offers the option of posterior bite ramps as well.

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Posterior bite ramps can be used to treat crossbites, and can move the anterior teeth out of occlusion to assist with the correction of an anterior crossbite with a deep overbite. In addition, posterior bite ramps can also treat open bites by intruding the molars and creating a backward mandibular rotation, thereby reducing the open bite. Posterior bite ramps appear as 3 consecutive coin shapes that are thermoformed into the aligner.

 

“The posterior bite ramps allow for movements of the back teeth that were previously not easy to control,” Dr. Kalika said. “Their unique semi-lunar design makes a lot of sense from an engineering standpoint, because they can be used not only to intrude posterior teeth, but also to do torquing movements, which are difficult to achieve with aligners.”

 

Upgraded Engager Template Material

 

ClearCorrect includes engager templates to assist clinicians when installing engagers based on the approved treatment setup. An optional component to aligner treatment, engager templates are made of a single-layer material and are clear thermoformed appliances designed to assist clinicians with accurately applying composite resin attachments to teeth. Responding to clinicians’ concerns about rigidity, the company now offers a more flexible material, designed to be easier for the clinician to manipulate and remove, as well as more comfortable for the patient.

 

“The prior material was a little bit too stiff,” Dr. Kalika shared. “This new template is easier to place and dislodge and offers more flexibility, which means there’s more precision, the engagers stay and don’t chip off, and it solves our retention issues. The previous template was always a bit tight, and it was a patient comfort issue when I would remove it.”

 

Active Case Upgrade

 

Also new to the ClearCorrect clear aligner method is a case upgrade feature designed to make the process of revising cases more efficient for the clinician.

 

“Before this, if I had a started case, and either I or the patient wanted to upgrade it to a more comprehensive plan, it would cost me more and I would have to submit it as a new case,” Dr. Kalika explained. “With this case upgrade, if I want to correct the bite, there’s an ability to upgrade the case from what is called a limited or flex case to a comprehensive case without having to submit a new one.”

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Extended Beveled Engagers

 

ClearCorrect aligner treatment also can include beveled engagers, now offered in an extended length and designed for use on teeth of different shapes and sizes. The engagers are beveled incisally in either a horizontal or vertical position and can aid in the insertion of the aligner. The beveling reduces the need for an aligner removal tool, promotes a more gentle force, and includes an inclined plane for more gradual insertion and removal.

 

“The beveling provides an ability to move teeth more easily in certain difficult scenarios, and the newer, longer length of the engager helps with some of the root positioning movement, which together, create more control of the system,” Dr. Kalika explained.

 

ClearPilot 7.0

 

The new add-on features are integrated with the latest treatment software, ClearPilot 7.0, which offers a user-friendly interface that provides better visuals to promote improved patient communication and easier treatment planning.

 

“ClearPilot 7.0 simulates a more natural gum structure,” Dr. Kalika shared. “I still have the multimodal view as with the previous version, but it has a cleaner look, so it’s easier to work on my cases.” 

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