Dental aligners have revolutionized orthodontics, offering a practical, discreet alternative to traditional fixed braces. Nonetheless, for certain complex cases, additional adjustments may be necessary to achieve the desired results. This is where dental cleats, small devices attached to the teeth, play a crucial role. These accessories not only improve the retention of aligners, but also facilitate dental movements that aligners alone cannot achieve.
This article explores in detail the different types of cleats, their function, importance and best practices for their use to maximize orthodontic treatment results.
Reminder: what is a cleat?
A cleat is a small orthodontic device used to complement to complement dental aligners to optimize treatment. Fixed to the tooth surface, a cleat can take on different shapes and sizes, depending on its specific role. They are generally made of composite and bonded to the tooth enamel.
The main purpose of a cleat is to create additional support points or surfaces against which aligners can exert pressure. Cette fonction est cruciale dans les cas où les aligneurs seuls ne suffisent pas pour atteindre les mouvements dentaires souhaités.
The different types of dental cleats
Cleats can be classified into two categories passive and active. Passive cleats increase the retention of aligners and prevent them from slipping, while active cleats facilitate or complement specific dental movements, such as rotations or egressions, which aligners cannot perform on their own due to biomechanical or morphological limitations.
Passive cleats to increase retention and reduce slippage
Passive cleats play a crucial role in improving the retention of dental aligners by preventing them from slipping or shifting during treatment, which is essential to ensure that teeth move in accordance with the treatment plan.
Generally small in size and attached to tooth surfaces-often the occlusal or vestibular surfaces-these cleats, which can be shaped like “buttons” or “nipples”, provide an additional surface against which aligners can rest, provide an additional surface against which aligners can rest.
Their placement must be strategic to avoid any discomfort for the patient, while maximizing their effectiveness. By reducing the risk of aligners shifting, passive cleats improve patient comfort and facilitate daily activities, enabling more effective treatment without interruptions.
Active cleats to facilitate complex dental movements
Active cleats are essential orthodontic devices for facilitating specific dental movements that aligners alone cannot effectively accomplish.
They are designed to enable or enhance complex movements such as outward egression of teeth, rotation of teeth with rounded contours or mesio-distal version adjustments, as well as correction of dental inclinations.
Available in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on treatment needs, these cleats exert pressure or create specific fulcrums to direct the aligners and achieve treatment objectives.
Their use provides precision and more accurate adjustments, reducing the need for further adjustments and speeding up the treatment process, delivering more satisfying results for patients.
Our tips for using cleats with aligners
Before integrating cleats into orthodontic treatment, it’s crucial to assess the patient’s specific needs according to the complexity of his or her case. Cleats should only be used when aligners alone are insufficient to achieve treatment goals.
What’s more, it’s imperative that you and your team are properly trained in dental installation and management of dental cleatsbecause proper training ensures correct placement and optimal function. In fact, we offer free training courses to our partner dentists to help them master these techniques, ensuring that cleats are used effectively to improve treatment results.
Regular follow-up is also essential to ensure that the cleats are performing as intended, and to make any necessary adjustments. Follow-up visits allow us to monitor treatment progress and check that the cleats are fitting properly, thus ensuring the continued effectiveness of orthodontic treatment.
To conclude
Dental cleats, whether passive or active, play an essential role in optimizing treatment with treatment with dental aligners. En comprenant leur fonction et en les utilisant judicieusement, you can improve aligner retention and facilitate complex dental movementsThis leads to more accurate and satisfying treatment results for your patients. Integrating these tools into your orthodontic practice can not only enrich your expertise, but also provide a better experience for your patients.
