Align Technology today announced that its Invisalign Scientific Symposium was attended by over 1,200 orthodontists and their teams from 60 countries.
The Symposium focused on peer-to-peer clinical presentations on the latest knowledge and insights based on the science and technology enabled by the Invisalign system.
The two days of lectures were in English, Italian, German, French, Spanish, Russian, and Turkish. This was to accommodate the continued interest in digital orthodontic treatment with Invisalign clear aligners.
Speakers were invited to present on the efficacy and efficiency of the Invisalign system. Especially in relation to treatment predictability, effectiveness, and stability. They also addressed the numerous and varied clinical approaches related to Invisalign clear aligner treatment, inter-disciplinary approaches, and auxiliary techniques.
Clear aligner treatment motivation
Highly respected clinicians delivered Invisalign Scientific Symposium keynote lectures.
They included Professor Juan Carlos Rivero Lesmes from Spain. He presented the ‘Efficiency with biomechanics and Invisalign clear aligners’. Whilst patients’ quality of life was the focus of the lecture by Dr Meiya Gao from China. She was an early adopter of Invisalign treatment for her patients. She has conducted studies to evaluate and compare oral health-related quality of life with clear aligners and other devices. Dr Gao described her findings in a lecture entitled ‘A comparison of pain perception, anxiety, and impacts on oral health-related quality of life between patients receiving clear aligners and fixed appliances during the initial stage of orthodontic treatment’.
Dr Gao commented: ‘Traditional orthodontic treatment can take about two years on average. So a patient’s quality of life during this period is a very noteworthy point.
‘In traditional treatment, many people give up or stop it due to the decline in the quality of life, because of physical pain, unaesthetic wearing of wired brackets, social interactions, and impaired oral functions.
‘Invisalign aligners offer a better option with a higher quality of life. That is the ultimate motivation for patients to choose clear aligner treatment.’
Invisalign First
Align faculty member, Dr Regina Blevins from the US commented: ‘We know that younger patients are successfully treated with Invisalign clear aligners. The benefits are not limited to aesthetic and clinical issues.
‘My clinical observation when treating these patients with Invisalign clear aligners is that there is less gingivitis, less decalcification, less emergency appointments, they also seem more upbeat.’
Professor Luca Levrini from Italy, whose main area of study is the treatment of younger patients, explored: ‘Arch development Invisalign First treatment in the mixed dentition, pre and post treatment predictability’.
Professor Levrini explained that around 40% of Invisalign cases in his practice are either teens or children. He has been treating them with the Invisalign First system for three years.
Professor Levrini commented that: ‘Slow arch development respects the body and biological process. This is why I am therefore perfectly happy with the Invisalign First system to treat my growing patients.
‘The fact that it is removable offers numerous benefits. This includes satisfactory oral hygiene and flexibility.
‘Working on growing patients at an early stage can prevent extractions, IPR, distalisation of the teeth, and proclination in adult patients.
‘In my experience, children are superbly compliant and cooperative and from a clinical perspective. It is so simple to integrate Invisalign First treatment into your practice.’
The growing patient
Dr Tommaso Castroflorio from Italy, focused on aligner and orthodontic tooth movement predictability. He discussed whether alignment in class II and open bite treatments are predictable.
In doing so, Dr Castroflorio familiarised the audience with specific features related to Invisalign G8 innovations.
Align Technology also collaborated with the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry to bring a scientific poster presentation session, which focused on the growing patient.
The winner was Professor Teresa Pinho. Her subject was on: ‘Open bite treated with Invisalign clear aligners and mini screws’.
Dr Michael Davidson, Align Technology director of clinical and professional education for EMEA, concluded that: ‘From the outset, the event’s scientific team who put together the Invisalign Scientific Symposium programme endeavoured to showcase the best in global research and clinical content for the Invisalign system or digital orthodontics using the Invisalign system, which is both robust, and relevant to the orthodontic practitioner.
‘The outcome has shown the clinical insights and expertise in digital orthodontics.’
For those unable to attend the live broadcast, but have pre-registered, it is also possible to view a recording of the Scientific Symposium by visiting: www.yourbrillianceenhanced.com/invisalignscientificsymposium2021.
