The latest Invisalign innovations in spotlight at EOS 2017

New materials and technologies have made it possible to treat even difficult orthodontic cases with non-extraction and non-surgical approaches and great predictability. Among those innovations are Align Technology’s Invisalign solutions with SmartTrack material and SmartForce features. At the 93rd Congress of the European Orthodontic Society (EOS) in Montreux, Canadian dentist Prof. Tarek el-Bialy will be presenting on the efficiency of orthodontic treatment with SmartTrac

Align’s continuous innovations, including the SmartTrack aligner material, SmartStage technology and SmartForce features, are clinically proven to improve control of tooth movement with Invisalign clear aligners, thus, allowing for greater predictability of orthodontic cases.

Building on its Invisalign G3 product line, which was introduced in 2010, the company has steadily evolved its Invisalign portfolio and associated treatment software. Its latest G7 series includes features to fine-tune certain tooth movements for improved clinical outcomes. Owing to these technological advancements, Align has recently adapted its recommendation from two-week aligner wear intervals to weekly changes for all Invisalign treatments (with default staging protocol) for Invisalign Full, Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Lite, and Invisalign Go products, provided the patients individual case is deemed suitable by their provider.

In testing the clinical outcomes of the one-week interval in over 200 Invisalign patients, a study found the same level of predictability as with two-week aligner wear, consequently allowing for a treatment time that is up to 50 per cent shorter.1 According to Align, the system can be used in the treatment of Class II and III, severe crowding, deep bite and open bite cases without surgery, even in adults, or extraction.

In Montreux, El-Bialy, Professor of Orthodontics and Bioengineering at the University of Alberta in Canada, will be giving an in-depth introduction to the biomechanics and treatment planning associated with weekly SmartTrack aligner changes. El-Bialy, who runs a private practice in Alberta, is an Invisalign Elite Provider, having treated over 300 patients with the solution.

“The improvements in the control of tooth movement, especially with SmartTrack material that provides gentle constant force, led me to change aligners weekly,” El-Bialy stated. “I have been changing aligners weekly with a broad range of patients, and even in complex and challenging cases have achieved the same clinical outcomes as when changing aligners every two weeks. This has greatly benefited my patients.”

“Patients want shorter treatment times and doctors want more efficient treatment,” commented Align Technology Chief Marketing, Portfolio and Business Development Officer Raphael Pascaud in this regard. “Significant improvements in Invisalign product predictability over the last few years, especially resulting from our proprietary SmartTrack aligner material, and the positive experiences shared by Invisalign providers who prescribe one-week aligner wear give us confidence that most patients using Invisalign Teen or Full products will benefit from weekly aligner changes and shorter overall treatment times.”

The satellite symposium, titled “Efficacy of one-week SmartTrack aligner change in treatment of difficult and complex orthodontic cases: Biomechanics and case management”, will be held from 12.40 to 1.20 p.m. at the Auditorium Stravinski on 7 June.

This year’s EOS congress will run from 5 to 10 June in Montreux. More information about the congress can be found here.