Fast forward 21 years and the company is the platinum sponsor of the European Aligner Society and its inaugural congress in Vienna (February 13-14, 2016).
Not that the orthodontic treatment it developed has remained the same for the past two decades. Far from it - years of technological innovation have meant that Invisalign has evolved considerably from its first iteration. New advances have enabled practitioners to treat increasingly more complex conditions, including severe misalignment, overbite, underbite and crossbite as well as deep bite.
Align Technology raised the bar with the introduction of Invisalign G5 which, along with the latest versions of its ClinCheck software (pro and web versions) and Itero Element digital intra-oral scanner, will form the focus of its attention at the European Aligner Society congress. The company is also holding two workshops at the congress to allow delegates hands-on experience with the latest technological advances.
Deep and meaningful
Invisalign G5 innovation addresses deep bite, a challenging and widespread orthodontic condition that affects an estimated 45 per cent of teens and adults. The new iteration introduces new Smart Force attachments and pressure areas to improve control of premolar extrusion and anterior intrusion, whilst precision aligner bite ramps are designed to disocclude the posterior teeth.
G5 has been used by some of the preeminent specialist orthodontists in Europe including Graham Gardener; the first president of the European Aligner Society, who expressed his admiration for the way the new solution helps him treat patients with complex malocclusions:
“Invisalign G5 has progressed treatment of deep bite malocclusions considerably, and although extreme deep bites remain a challenge, I am happy these features are now available as it has continued the progress of Invisalign, cementing its place as a genuine orthodontic appliance system.”
Specialist orthodontist, Dai Roberts-Harry, commented:
“Invisalign G5 makes it much easier than before to treat deep bite with clear aligners, which is one of the most common and more challenging types of orthodontic problems we see. With Invisalign G5, I can now use Invisalign to treat a wide range of complex teeth straightening issues, and I see Invisalign with the same advantage as metal braces. In my opinion and from my experience, Invisalign is comparable in terms of results, treatment speed and efficiency with fixed braces. In the last decade this technology has taken us in a direction that very few of us could have predicted.”
David Couchat, an orthodontic specialist from France who treats all his patients with Invisalign clear aligners, explained:
“An increasingly wide variety of malocclusions can be treated with this clear aligner modality. I treat a range of complex cases presenting with open bite, deep bite and even cases requiring surgical intervention. There is probably no single orthodontic problem nowadays that you cannot treat with Invisalign. In the past we were obliged to use auxiliaries, but we can give them all up now thanks to the latest innovations. For me, there are no more limits with the technology anymore.”
Peter Ilori, a specialist orthodontist added:
“I started out treating relatively straight forward and rudimentary cases but as my confidence in the clear aligner modality grew, so did the number of patients I was taking on as Invisalign cases, to the point now where it is my primary method of treating both adults and teens in the four practices I run. The introduction of Invisalign G3 was a turning point for the Invisalign system and for me as it made it possible for me to treat more challenging cases for the first time. Later the change to SmartTrack clear aligner material combined with the use of SmartForce features enabled me to achieve more predictable results and capture control of the teeth to do so much more.”
“With the introduction of Invisalign G4 came a series of features which offered me much greater flexibility and the opportunity to treat open bite cases. Then a year later Invisalign G5came along, which was primarily engineered to enable orthodontists like me to treat deep bite cases, so broadening the scope of patients whose cases could be tackled using clear aligners.”
Checking in
Also available for delegates to explore at first hand at the congress are the latest versions of its ClinCheck software. ClinCheck Pro features 3D controls to provide more precise control over the final tooth position to help practitioners achieve their treatment goals by making adjustments directly onto a 3D model on screen, and visualise the effects on the whole dentition in real time. When the 3D Controls are activated doctors can revise their treatment plans by making 3D adjustments, providing text comments, or combining both for maximum flexibility. Meanwhile, ClinCheck Web is a web based version of the software. This has been designed to give Invisalign providers more convenience and flexibility by enabling them to access their ClinCheck treatment plans remotely from both Windows and Mac computers.
Scanning the horizon
Of the 1.3m orthodontic scans which have been generated using the ITero scanner, 600,000 were of Invisalign patients. This number is set to increase exponentially with the launch of a far faster scanner. The new iTero Element Intraoral Scanner, introduced in March, 2015, is engineered to capture 6,000 frames per second, and the image sensor is designed to enable scan speeds that are up to twenty times faster than its predecessor, resulting in a real time 3D visualisation of the digital scan – ready in just minutes for viewing on a multi-touch screen. The iTero Element scanner is designed to offer two compact space saving form factors, a 40 per cent smaller and lighter wand that features built in controls with integrated gyro technology for rotation of models on screen, as well as a 19” high definition, multi-touch display. In addition, the ITO defogging system instantly defogs the wand without the need for air or extended warming. System features also include continuous scanning, colour scanning, and automatic data saving without the need for battery back up.
The Invisalign Outcome Simulator is a chairside application – powered exclusively by the iTero scanner – which doctors can use to help patients visualise how their teeth may look at the end of their Invisalign treatment. The dual view layout enables prospective patients to see their current dentition next to their simulated final position. In addition, the 3D digital model file can be used for various procedures and Invisalign digital impression submission, digital records storage, or orthodontic diagnosis.
For more information please visit www.invisalign.comand www.itero.com