CREOKORREKT Aligners consist of a series of doctor-prescribed, thin, clear, thermoformed polyurethane orthodontic appliances. The aligners provide gentle continuous force to move the patient’s teeth in small increments from their original positions to planned positions. CREOKORREKT Aligners are intended as an alternative to conventional wire and bracket orthodontic technology and fixed appliances for the treatment of patients with malocclusion.
Orthodontic tooth movements occur through the gentle forces applied to the teeth by the appliance to the dentition as each tooth follows the programmed displacement base on a dental health professional’s prescription. The clear aligners move teeth by exerting a push force. When an aligner is inserted over teeth, there are minor differences between the positions of the teeth intraorally and the position of the teeth in the aligner. The aligner deforms over teeth, and the elasticity in the aligner material pushes the teeth into position. The devices are held in place by pressure and can be removed by the patient at any time.
Clear, esthetic, and comfortable
Better oral hygiene than fixed appliances
Ideal for patients who are reluctant to have a lengthy treatment wearing metal brackets
Technically much easier than lingual appliances
Best for aligning mild crowding and spacing of anterior teeth
Can be used as a retainer after treatment
Used computerized 3D technology to visualize and move teeth in a virtual model
Over the last 16 years, clear aligner treatment has developed from a technique of only treating mild crowding or spacing of anterior teeth to a technique that can be used to treat almost any type of orthodontic problem.
Aligner materials and attachments will continue to improve which will allow aligners to fit better for longer periods of time and result in better outcomes.
Material Composition
The nature of thermoplastic materials is to adapt to their environment (forces placed on them) over time. This response is exaggerated at higher temperatures, such as at body (or mouth) temperature. This means that all thermoformed aligner materials will enter the mouth with a higher force placed on teeth, then decline in force over time. This translates into a good chance of pain for the patient when inserted and possibly marginal tooth-moving force in as little as a day or two. This phenomenon is so-called “Stress relaxation”. The orthodontic forces are decreased under a constant strain due to the stress relaxation. Aligner materials exhibit rapid stress relaxation during not only the first hour, but also after 24 and 48 hours.
The material that CREOKORREKT Aligners use combines an inner shell to firmly grip teeth and an outer shell to provide a tough barrier against clenching or grinding from the opposing dental arch. The dual-shell structure provides precise fit and strength, while a third, central layer provides elastic rebound. The center-layer construction of this material has been specifically designed to generate lower force on initial insertion, yet have elastic recovery to provide greater tooth-moving forces over time than possible with standard/commodity thermoplastic materials. This material has 40% less initial force and maintains 50% greater orthodontic force over time than other materials. It enables the reduction of pain when the patient wears the aligners and keeps applying continuous orthodontic forces to the teeth.
Comparison of Stress Relaxation Curve
Validations
“Clear aligner technique requires a more proactive, disciplined approach. Before a single tooth is moved, the correction of the malocclusion is visualized through a series of tooth movements made on a software program and the final occlusion designed into the treatment outcome. This requires a paradigm shift in the thought process from being a reactive orthodontist to being a proactive orthodontist.”
– Sandra Tai, Clear aligner technique, Quintessence Publishing, 2018