Technology has been improving rapidly in recent years, and that’s undoubtedly true in adult orthodontics. Orthodontists now have access to tools and techniques that provide a greater standard of care for their patients, with more accurate treatment outcome predictions and more comfort. Here’s a look at some of these advances and what they can mean for treatment with your Melbourne orthodontist.

Digital Imaging

While X-rays still have their place in adult orthodontics, practices are shifting to more accurate digital imaging techniques. Digital impressions give your doctor a clearer picture and a more comprehensive view of your dental structures. This allows the orthodontist to develop a precise and individualized treatment plan and predict treatment outcomes with better accuracy than ever before.

An intraoral scanner or similar device lets your doctor capture highly detailed images of the inside of the mouth that aren’t possible with X-rays. The digital imaging can then be combined with treatment simulation software. Patients can get a visual sense of what their treatment outcomes will look like. This allows for more transparency and lets patients feel more involved in their treatment process.

3D Printing

3D printing has revolutionized the speed and accuracy of orthodontic treatment in new ways. Under the traditional methods of creating orthodontic appliances, the clinic often had to send a mold of the patient’s teeth to a laboratory and then wait for the appliance to be created. This was time-consuming and often less accurate. If the appliance had a problem, it often had to be sent back to the lab for adjustment.

This technology allows highly customized devices and aligners that fit better and work more efficiently while increasing patient comfort. 3D printing can be used to make brackets and wires for traditional braces. It’s also commonplace to create clear aligner systems like Invisalign. This technology can speed up tooth movement. It also reduces the wait for a new appliance from days or weeks to sometimes hours.

Invisalign

Speaking of Invisalign, these clear aligners have been the most popular treatment of adult orthodontics for almost two decades. They’re not as common as traditional braces but offer some advantages that patients appreciate. With digital imaging and 3D printing now available, Invisalign treatment is even more accurate and efficient.

These clear aligners function in much the same way as traditional braces. They shift the teeth into new positions to deliver the perfect smile over time. The aligners are nearly invisible (hence the name), so most people won’t realize you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. This can be useful for adults with front-facing careers who want to improve their smile without resorting to braces.

Invisalign can also be removed from the mouth for brief periods to allow eating, brushing, and flossing. This makes the aligners much more attractive for some people compared to traditional braces, which stay on the teeth full-time. Traditional braces remain a more common and effective treatment for kids and adolescents, however, because they can shift the teeth further and correct more serious malocclusions.

AI and the Future of Orthodontic Treatment

It’s hard to turn on the news and not hear about artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionizing various industries. We’re still in the very early days of AI impacting orthodontics. Your orthodontist will not be replaced by a “robot” anytime soon. However, there are early applications of AI in orthodontics that are proving to be useful.

Early research has shown that AI can be a valuable assistant to your human orthodontist in patient diagnosis and treatment planning. AI cannot replace human expertise and an orthodontist’s years of experience. However, researchers are finding that it can be a valuable quality-assurance tool for orthodontists. If it can be used to enhance the efficiency of diagnostics and treatment planning, that will be a win-win for patients and orthodontists.

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