Abstract

Evidence-Based Aligner Therapy in Growing Patients: the Hybrid Approach

by Lombardo Luca

Aligners are very popular and appreciated by patients. The use of these orthodontic devices was initially limited to adults but has recently been extended to growing patients. The scientific and clinical evidence showed aligners are able to solve the crowding in many types of malocclusions. However, it has been widely documented by recent orthodontic systematic reviews and metanalisis that these devices have significant limitations in achieving bodily movement or skeletal effects. Based on the knowledge of these aspects and on the belief that the exaggerated use of aligners during a treatment cannot be the reasonable solution to these limits, the authors propose a hybrid approach which involves the combination of different orthodontic devices in addition to the aligners to obtain clinical results satisfactory and predictable even in growing patients.

Learning Objectives

After this lecture, you will be able to understand the limitations of orthodontic treatments of growing patients with aligners.
After this lecture, you will be able to understand the potential of hybrid orthodontic treatments of growing patients using aligners.
After this lecture, you will be able to evaluate the results of orthodontic treatments in growing patients.