Orthodontic Aligner Treatment 2021

In the 1980s, as adult orthodontic treatment grew, there was a high demand for minimally visible appliances, which ceramic or plastic brackets could not satisfy. This need led to the development of removable, thermoplastic “clear” or invisible aligners that move teeth based on predetermined forces. The early systems planned and executed tooth movements largely outside the clinician’s control, making many orthodontists skeptical about their widespread use, though they increased treatment accessibility for nonspecialists. With patents expiring, various companies now offer a wide range of aligner systems, some allowing in-office treatment planning and fabrication. Their appeal to appearance-conscious adults and adolescents expanded their use, leading orthodontic postgraduate programs to include aligner training to fill gaps in specialist education. This shift also prompted the need for stronger scientific evidence on outcomes, side effects, treatment duration, oral microbiota changes, and forces generated, moving beyond anecdotal reports and expert opinion. The book reviews clear aligner therapy from clinical, technical, materials, and outcome perspectives, providing principles, evidence, case presentations, clinical tips, and guidance on using different systems for adolescents and adults. It offers up-to-date clinical management guidelines, detailed material and force analysis, treatment outcome assessment, and comprehensive case planning for a wide variety of malocclusions.