This article is sponsored content brought to you by Avant Dental.
According to Orthodontics Australia, patients can pay anywhere from $6,000 for traditional metal braces, to $15,000 for lingual braces. That’s a sizable investment many people are making in their smile.
However, post-orthodontic relapse can wipe away the gains – and fast. Dr Lawrence Neville, principal dentist and co-owner of Spa Dental in Sydney, says that post-orthodontic relapse cases are surprisingly common. Fortunately, many minor relapse cases can be effectively treated with clear aligners.
Avant Dental is the leading technologically progressive lab in Australia. Their Refine Aligner solution has been designed to treat minor post-orthodontic relapse cases with an easy five-step workflow. It’s a much more accessible solution for patients who need minor refinements to restore their smile without resorting to another full orthodontic treatment.
Common causes of post-orthodontic relapse
Dr Neville says the most common causes of post-orthodontic relapse include:
- The patient’s failure to wear their retainers in line with their dentist’s instructions;
- Incomplete orthodontic treatment or faster than necessary treatment timelines;
- The failure to resolve a causative factor – such as a molar intrusion – as part of the original treatment;
- Patient habits such as teeth grinding and smoking;
- Poor oral hygiene that leads to gum disease, enamel wear and tooth loss can cause teeth to move or become unstable.
How to treat post-orthodontic relapse
Dr Neville says most post-orthodontic relapse cases will need a greater degree of realignment – requiring a clear aligner treatment.
“Clear aligners are great for realigning one or a couple of teeth,” he explains.
“They give you the ability to easily correct post-orthodontic relapse and stop it getting worse. Patients won’t have to redo their original treatment. And because you’re not going back to the beginning of the smile design process, it’s typically much cheaper for the patient.”
5-step Refine Aligner workflow
Avant is making clear aligner treatment easier – and more accessible – with Refine Aligner. Refine Aligner has been designed to treat minor post-orthodontic relapse cases without adding to your daily workload.
We’ve reduced the entire process to a simple five-step workflow:
1. Take an intraoral scan (or provide a physical impression), clinical photos, lateral ceph/OPG radiographs, and a cone beam for root movement analysis if needed.
2. Use the Avant website to complete the order form and upload the case materials or book a pick-up for physical impressions.
3. Avant reviews your case and provides a PDF treatment plan and a video showing the movement of the treatment for your review and approval.
4. Avant prepares trays in TGA approved materials and completes a quality control check.
5. The patient kit (including an aligner case, removal key, chewies and first trays) is delivered to your practice.
The final word
If patients don’t follow retainer protocols and experience minor post- orthodontic relapse, all is not lost. Dentists can use specifically-designed clear aligner solutions like Avant’s Refine Aligner to make minor adjustments to restore the patient’s smile and stop the progression of post-orthodontic relapse.
Avant is making post-orthodontic relapse treatment fast, easy and accessible. Refine Aligner can be integrated into your existing digital workflow with treatment planning provided by Avant’s expert lab technicians. Whether you have an existing relationship with us or are new to the Avant family, we’re here to talk you through the process and provide any guidance you need to start treating post-orthodontic relapse with Refine Aligner.
Want to find out more about partnering with Avant for post-orthodontic relapse treatments? Please email contact@avantdental.com.au or phone 1800 287 336.
