What is refinement and do i really need it?

Orthodontics has come a long way since the ancient times when traditional braces and clunky headgears were all that could be expected to get you the smile you’ve always dreamt of. Advances in technology and research have heralded a change in the way orthodontics looks today, and we have to admit, the future looks bright for orthodontics. In the late 90’s when Align Technology came out with their latest product, the clear aligner system – Invisalign®, no one could have anticipated the way it would mutate orthodontic treatments forever.

It was in the late 2000s when things really started to look up for orthodontic systems when there were onslaughts made in the ortho market, with companies releasing their own renditions of the clear aligners. Today, clear aligners have become the norm for straightening crooked teeth because it is comfortable and far more aesthetically pleasing than traditional braces.

Clear aligner treatment is typically straightforward – you wear the clear aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day for a designated period of time and voila! – you have straight teeth. That is usually how aligner treatments take place. However, for a certain percentage of people, their teeth do not move as planned. Yes, tooth movements can be unpredictable and at times ‘lag’, moving slower than the desired amount.

People whose treatment outcome does not look like how it’s supposed to at the end (or in the middle) of the treatment will need to get additional help in the form of refinement.

What is refinement?

When one of the teeth does not move as anticipated during the process of clear aligner treatment, the patient will be required to undergo a procedure called refinement. Refinements are a method of employing a refreshed tooth movement plan in order to ensure that the tooth movements of less responsive teeth do not hinder the treatment process.

Refinement aligners, also known as overcorrection aligners are an extra set of aligners that are designed to make corrections to your treatment. In cases where you’ve failed to regularly wear your aligners or if your original set of aligners has not worked as expected for whatsoever reason, your orthodontist will make changes to your aligners and dispense you these special refinement aligners that will get you the results you originally hoped for.

How are refinement aligners made?

If your orthodontist deems you necessary for a refinement aligner set, they will perform a digital scan of your teeth in order to create a new set of impressions for analysis and to produce a new tooth movement plan that will guarantee desired outcomes.

With the help of these scans, your orthodontist will order a new set of aligner trays that will help push the teeth into the right positions. These trays will be similar to your original aligners and will still be required to be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It is essential to remember that these refinements will extend your treatment timeline anywhere from three to six months based on your treatment plan. Your orthodontist will inform you if you are in need of only one refinement aligner or a series of refinements.

Why are refinements necessary?

In a perfect world, all your teeth would move amenably to their right positions. But for many, things simply don’t go as planned. To be fair, teeth perform a wide range of movements – they can de-rotate, extrude, intrude, procline, torque or more at the rate of 0.2 millimetres of linear movement or 2º per aligner approximately 2 weeks at a time. The way teeth respond to the forces programmed within each aligner will greatly affect the rate at which teeth move.

Some complex movements like protractions, retractions, or torque are difficult for teeth to achieve with aligners and so, can take a longer time to achieve. In the end, everyone is different. Your bone density, tissue structure, and gingival firmness are will unique to you, which is why aligners may not work the same for you as they would for someone else.

Another reason why your tooth movements have not been turning out the way they should and why you will need refinement aligners at the earliest is due to your incompliance. Aligners work only as long as you wear them for the instructed duration of time. If you fail to do so regularly, your teeth will not move how they are supposed to. This is why it is crucial for you to wear your aligners will strict compliance.

Takeaway

Refinements are a normal portion of clear aligner therapy. If your teeth are not cooperating enough for you to achieve the results needed, refinements may be mandatory for you. Your orthodontist will prepare a digital plan for your teeth and map out your treatment to best suit your current and future needs.

Although nothing could have prepared you for this misbegotten part of the treatment where you will be adding a couple of extra months to your treatment, in most cases, you will not incur additional charges for your refinements. But this could vary. Contact your dental office to understand the full scope of your refinement needs.