Is it possible to solve crowding and a temporomandibular joint disorder using clear aligners alone and without extractions? At Clínica Peydro the answer is yes. Today we bring you the case of a patient who came to our practice very keen to improve the look of her smile. Although she had never been entirely happy with it, over time she noticed that her teeth were becoming more and more crowded, to the point where she became quite worried about the visual effect on her smile. Even though she was very keen to improve it, the patient refused to wear braces because of how uncomfortable she found the idea, so in the end she chose clear aligners from start to finish.
The study carried out before the clear aligner treatment
Before planning the treatment, we carried out a thorough study of the case. In it, we could see that the patient had several problems:
- Malocclusion
- A lot of crowding in both arches (upper and lower)
- A triangular upper arch
The arch we design is generally wide and parabolic, so we decided to start her treatment plan there. Because of the triangular shape of her arch, a severe, significant rotation had gradually developed in the upper incisors, both central and lateral. Because the arch was so narrow, the teeth had become locked inwards and, as a result, severe crowding had developed in the lower arch. On top of that, in the temporomandibular joints we also noticed certain sounds or clicks telling us that the joints were suffering because of that malocclusion.
The case solved with clear aligners
We decided to treat her with clear aligners without any extractions. Our objectives during treatment were to create a good arch form: wide, symmetric and balanced, so as to correct the angulation of the teeth and, with it, the severe rotations she had. Straightening the back sections of both arches would also allow us to solve the severe crowding she had. We scheduled visits roughly every two or three months and, in the end, we met the objectives we had set: wide, symmetric, parabolic arches, in balance with her face. We gave her a good class 1 bite and good alignment in both arches. If you have any of these problems, remember that you can book a free first visit with no obligation, where we will explain what your case involves
