In the past, people with more complicated orthodontic cases—like Class II and III malocclusions—may have not been good candidates for Invisalign. However, because of technological improvements and hybrid therapies, one study found that patients with complex cases could possibly qualify for Invisalign. Take a look at why Invisalign has become more available over the years for more people.

Hybrid Treatment Availability 

Hybrid treatment is a unique way to approach orthodontic therapy. Instead of using clear aligners alone or metal braces alone, orthodontists use a combination of the two. For instance, for severe malocclusions, a dentist may have a patient wear metal braces for a short time, and then remove those appliances and switch the patient over to Invisalign trays. Some hybrid approaches may not use metal braces at all. If teeth need additional forces to shift, orthodontists can now place plastic buttons, or attachments, on the Invisalign trays that can work with rubber bands.

New Software Developments

Dentistry IQ reports that new software developments, like Invisalign Assist, can help streamline case planning. Such software can:

• Help dentists map out clinical tasks for each patient appointment.
• Help dentists easily submit new impressions for new aligners.
• Help dentists get a start-to-finish view of all aspects of treatment.

One great benefit of this software is that it can help patients who are seeing a general dentist rather than an orthodontist for treatment. A general dentist may be new to Invisalign treatment, but he or she can confidently complete treatment with these software assistants.

Stereolithography Improvements

Stereolithography is a form of 3D printing technology used for creating models in many commercial fields, like the dentistry sector. There have been many improvements to this technology over the years. For instance, physical impressions don't have to be taken anymore. Your dentist can use an intra-oral scanner to quickly get an image of your mouth that is more accurate than alginate impressions. Once the image is scanned, it can be sent directly to a dental lab where Invisalign trays can be printed more easily. Because of this streamlined process, the length of treatment doesn't have to be overly long for patients with complex cases. Lastly, the resins that are used to make the trays themselves have greater elasticity than previous aligners; they use a new technology called SmartTrack. One study found that the SmartTrack resin was also more comfortable than previous materials.

These are just a few reasons why Invisalign treatment has improved enough to be suitable for patients with complex cases. Reach out to a dentist today for more details.