Aligners are gaining in popularity as adults in particular dislike the appearance of fixed appliances; however, it is difficult to achieve bodily tooth movement, especially of molars, when relying on aligners alone. Additionally, reinforced anchorage is required in some cases, and the potential side effects of maxillomandibular elastics must be considered, such as unwanted shift of the anchor teeth. This could pose a serious problem, especially when unilateral elastics are applied, as these have the potential to cause midline shift, arch rotation, arch discrepancy and transverse occlusal canting. To avoid the risks of tipping and anchorage loss, as well as the strict requirements for elastic wear, mini-implant–borne sliders and expanders can be used. The anterior palate provides excellent conditions for inserting and ensuring stability of skeletal anchorage devices, as the amount and quality of available bone are far superior to those in other regions of the oral cavity. In this paper, the most frequently used combinations of mini-implant–borne appliances and aligners (Benefit for Aligner Technique) are presented to show how more predictable and faster results can be achieved in aligner therapy.
Keywords: aligners, asymmetry, Class II treatment, complex adult cases, distalisation, Invisalign, miniscrew, rapid maxillary expansion, skeletal anchorage
