This article will aid your understanding of what you see when looking at Proligner clear aligners and for you to understand what movements can be achieved.
This article will review the:
· material they're made of,
· features they offer,
· purpose of each feature, and
· parameters of Proligner clear aligner treatment.
Plastic isn’t just Plastic
It's everywhere. Plastic is hugely diverse in its use and exactly what it’s made of. Proligner clear aligners are made of several plastic based materials which are thermoplastic polyurethane with an integrated elastomer. It's medical grade and are biocompatible for human use in the oral cavity. They contain no BPA or BPS. The FDA, TGA, and MHRA classify clear aligners as a Class One medical device. This is for devices that have the lowest risk to the patient. However, they should only be administered by dentists with the training to do so properly, similar to all medical devices. They are most effective in the hands of experienced and trained professionals.
Even then, not all clear aligner plastics are the same. Some cheaper ones tend to crack easily, or are not clear, retain their force on the teeth for long, or wear quickly.
Proligner clear aligners are available in two variants, SuperClear FLX, and SuperClear PRO.
SuperClear FLX has elastomeric dual shell technology that provides long-term strength and flexibility. A harder shell covers a springy inner plastic, providing a long-term force memory which is best targeted at cases with more complex movements.
SuperClear PRO is single plastic technology designed for the highest clarity, and is best for simple cases.
Understanding that, let's now look at the features of Proligner clear aligners.
Features
Laser Marking
All Proligner clear aligners are numbered to identify the order they need to be worn. Make sure you show this feature to patients to avoid any confusion.
Attachment Molds
The molds fit both families of attachments, rectangular or conventional attachments, and optimised attachments. For more information on attachments read the Attachments article.
Edge
A feature that stands out for me, is how Proligner clear aligners are trimmed and finished. Several companies, such as Invisalign use laser cutting. This creates a burred edge that can irritate the gums, which is why its recommended to use an emery board to smooth sharp edges. Proligner clear aligners are CNC cut and polished leaving a smooth edge that is comfortable for the gum.
Trim Line
The Proligner providers are able to prescribe a bespoke trim line if a patient has a challenging movement. Default is a scalloped trim line, which is most comfortable as it does not press against the gums. Others are flat trim line, cut at the gingival zenith, and flat trim lines, cut 1mm above the gingival zenith.
Parameters of Proligner Treatment
Each Proligner clear aligner is designed to provide a type of force to achieve a certain amount of movement. A maximum movement for each aligner is 0.25 millimetre and or two degrees. This generally reduced with the patient’s age. With movements of 0.15 millimetre and 1 degree of movement with each aligner being comfortably achieved. How tightly a tooth is held in place, which generally increases with age, determines how hard the tooth may push back against the force planned by the aligner.
It is possible to change how quickly teeth move in the treatment planning by writing in special instructions in your prescription. Instructions can be made for the whole arch, or a particular tooth where you want the velocity of movement to be different.
To learn more about the specifics of clear aligner treatment limitations, read our guide on movement classification.
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