Journal of Aligner Orthodontics, 01/2025

Aligner therapy has been an integral part of orthodontics for over 20 years since it was first introduced by Align Technology (San Jose, CA, USA). There is now a vast range of aligner providers to choose from, but there is little to distinguish them. Owing to the virtual treatment simulation software that is now available and the rapid advancements in 3D printing technology that have occurred, it is now possible for orthodontists to produce aligners independently, and in-office aligner therapy is becoming increasingly important. Almost all tooth movements can be performed with aligner treatment. Temporomandibular dysfunction can also be treated using bonded onlay elements in phase one of treatment. In the present study, the authors outline a workflow for in-office aligner treatment that utilises the advantages of a virtual articulator to treat patients with and without temporomandibular dysfunction. Keywords: Digital Motion Decoder, in-office aligner, Modjaw, occlusion, temporomandibular dysfunction, temporomandibular joint, virtual articulator

This case report describes the successful multidisciplinary orthodontic retreatment of a patient with failed space closure with a thin periodontal phenotype from previous premolar extractions, which was achieved by performing corticotomy and alveolar augmentation procedures. The subject was a 31-year-old woman with skeletal asymmetry and biprotrusion, with half-closed spaces from previous extraction of the maxillary second and mandibular first premolars and presenting generalised recession in the first quadrant in particular due to her thin phenotype. Phase 1 consisted of a simultaneous gingival graft and orthodontic treatment, followed by phase 2 of the corticotomy procedure along with alveolar augmentation to make the planned movements and space closure possible within the bone boundaries with a clear removable appliance (Invisalign, Align Technology, San Jose, CA, USA). Extraction spaces were closed during the first 8 months, although the total treatment time was 19 months since carrying out detailed finishing is difficult in such cases. The final results were effective space closure with parallel roots, an improved periodontal phenotype through total coverage of gingival recession, and correctly inclined incisors. Keywords: aligners, corticotomy, gingival graft, multidisciplinary treatment, recession, space closure

Angle Class II malocclusion is a common orthodontic condition characterised by a distal relationship between molars. This classification includes a high proportion of patients with protrusive facial profiles due to hypoplasia or mandibular retraction. In clinical practice, the twin block orthodontic appliance is frequently used for the correction of Angle Class II malocclusion in patients with mandibular retrognathism. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effective use of sagittal guidance twin block clear aligners (S8-SGTB), a product made by Smartee Denti-Technology (Shanghai, China), in the treatment of three patients aged from 23 to 30 years with different subtypes of Class II malocclusion. After 13 to 20 months of treatment, their Class II malocclusion had been corrected and an overall improvement in the occlusal relationship had been achieved. Acceptable two-dimensional changes were identified through cephalometric analysis. These results demonstrated that S8-SGTB clear aligners not only effectively corrected mandibular retrusion but also achieved balanced occlusal contact. In conclusion, the S8-SGTB clear aligner has shown promising clinical outcomes in treating adult patients with Class II malocclusion, deep horizontal and vertical overlap, and mandibular retrusion. Keywords: Class II malocclusion, clear aligner, sagittal-guidance twin block clear aligner (S8-SGTB), Smartee Denti-Technology

Purpose: To investigate the content and demographic features of YouTube videos about Smile Direct Club, Byte, Candid and NewSmile, and perform a sentiment analysis of related comments. Materials and methods: The terms “Smile Direct Club”, “Byte”, “Candid” and “NewSmile” were searched on YouTube. The first 200 videos were viewed and 32 were analysed. The demographic features and content of the videos were gathered and assessed. Comments were classified by commenter status, difficulties experienced and content, and were used to measure the emotional data in the sentiment analysis. Pearson chi-squared, Fisher exact and Kruskal Wallis tests and analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. Results: All the videos examined were uploaded by aligner patients and documented their experiences. Of these, 75% were rated as being of moderate quality, while 37.5% were considered highly useful in providing valuable information to future patients. The most frequently mentioned topics were cost/economic considerations (n = 31), the reason for choosing the treatment method (n = 27), and complications/pain (n = 27). The least mentioned subjects were aesthetic situations (n = 15) and treatment objectives and limiting factors (n = 16). When the distribution of comments based on the focus of the content was examined, 14.7% were found to be related to complications. Conclusions: Although social media offers considerable benefits in every aspect of life, it is still essential to obtain an expert opinion on health-related issues. Keywords: Byte, Candid, NewSmile, sentiment analysis, Smile Direct Club, video analysis, YouTube