Dentaltown April 2022 - 53

purposes to 3D-printing appliances to
render the therapeutic care. Cone-beam
computed tomography (CBCT) units
and 3D intraoral scanners are becoming
common equipment in dental practices,
so a growing group of practices has begun
3D-printing dental models or appliances.
In sum, digital dentistry is here to
stay. From the fi nancial and patient care
perspectives, it makes sense to adapt our
daily practice style to maximize the use of
digital technology in hand.
How does a provider benefi t from an
IOA system? This journey often starts
with buying a 3D printer to fabricate clear
retainers in-house. Cost reduction and
quick turnaround are the primary reasons
for making clear retainers from 3D-printed
dental models in-house. The next logical
step forward is to establish protocols to help
with active clear retainers-specifi cally,
fabricating one or a few clear retainers
(i.e., aligners) designed to move a limited
number of teeth to improve minor
misalignments. Some providers push this
further to fabricate aligners for limited or
comprehensive orthodontic care.
Access to on-demand aligner options
opens possibilities in daily practice of
orthodontics. However, this does come
at the expense of challenges to set up and
maintain an in-offi ce aligner system.
It is essential to identify the main reason
you want to set up an IOA system (Fig. 1).
Are you planning to use in-house fabricated
aligners for patients who need correction
of minor relapse, limited nine-month
orthodontic care or comprehensive care?
Are you going to treat some malocclusions
with a hybrid appliance, mixing fixed
appliances with aligners? Do you want to
have a full-time digital technician? Answers
to all these questions help you to morph
the extent of your in-offi ce aligner system.
How can I implement
an in-offi ce aligner system
in my daily practice?
Components of an in-offi ce aligner
system are similar to a third-party manufacturing
system, despite relevant adjustments
in each step matching the process to a
smaller yet customizable scale. One ought
to harness the customizability of in-offi ce
aligners; for example, the gingival trim line
can be adjusted based on the treatment
plan. Additionally, a hybrid appliance (fi xed
appliances and aligners) can be fabricated
with localized selective blackouts to optimize
the retention of the aligner.
The aligner manufacturing cycle (Fig. 2)
divides into digital and analog segments.
Each part entails various components.
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Dentaltown April 2022

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