🚨 **Orthodontic Aligners: A Cautionary Tale** 🚨

I recently received a treatment plan for orthodontic aligners via DM from a company, with zero knowledge of basic orthodontic mechanics.

Here’s a summary of the issues I noticed (and trust me, they’re not minor):

1️⃣ **Attachment Misalignment**: Inadequate size and position of the attachments. aside from this the plan relies on a buccal attachment for upper premolar rotation, for almost 20-degree without utilizing palatal attachments or elastics.

2️⃣ **Bone Health at Stake**: The continual expansion and retraction of the premolars can have a drastic effect on bone density. We must prioritize the long-term health of our patients!

3️⃣ **Timing Trouble (wrong staging) **: The plan appears to be moving all teeth simultaneously, leading to unsynergistic movements. Timing is everything in orthodontics as teeth move like a chess pieces.

4️⃣ **Torque Trouble**: The wrong mechanics used with cross elastics for correcting the lower right five are questionable, introducing negative torque in the upper while the elastics already induce negative torque ,while in the lower is vice-versa will lead to unwanted movements also without creating adequate space.

5️⃣ **Uneven Progress**: An uneven overjet and uneven expansion in lower teeth raise red flags. Consistency is crucial for effective treatment!

6️⃣ **Collision Course**: The disastrous collision between maxillary and mandibular teeth from trays 17 to 20 and imagine this happens in the patient's mouth could lead to unwanted effects and may lead to failureof the whole treatment.

7️⃣ **Excessive Intrusion**: An intrusion greater than 2mm in the lower teeth which started at the end of treatment? This suggests a need for more than 13 aligners for proper movement to allow proper increment that doesn't exceed 0.2 per aligner.

8️⃣ **Arch Form Issues**: The inadequate arch form and malaligned teeth signal a fundamental flaw in the planning process.

9️⃣ **TMJ Concerns**: The inclusion of bite raisers could greatly affect the temporomandibular joint, leading to further complications for the patient.

It’s clear that this plan has significant flaws that could jeopardize patient outcomes. As we navigate the world of orthodontic aligners, let’s ensure we prioritize informed, precise, and patient-centered approaches.

What are your thoughts on this? Have you encountered similar issues with aligner treatment plans? Let’s discuss! 💬 hashtag#Orthodontics hashtag#Aligners hashtag#PatientCare hashtag#DentalHealth hashtag#TreatmentPlanning hashtag#orthodontists hashtag#dentists