Clinical effectiveness of Invisalign

1. Clinical effectiveness of Invisalign Orthodontic developments, specifically during the last years, have been accompanied by a important surge in the esthetic demands of the patients.. Conventional orthodontic approaches have been related with a general compromise in facial appearance raising a major concern among patients seeking orthodontic treatment. Thus, esthetic materials and methods have been announced in clinical practice aiming to overcome theselimitations. Since its development in 1997, Invisalign technology has been established worldwide as an esthetic alternative to labial fixed appliances CAD/CAM stereo lithographic technology has been used to forecast treatment outcomes and fabricate a series of custom-made aligners using a single silicone or digital impression. After its introduction, the system has been drastically developed and continually improved in many aspects; different attachment designs, new materials, and new auxiliaries, such as “Precision Cuts” and “Power Ridges” were designed to enable additional treatment biomechanics. According to the originator, Invisalign can successfully do major tooth movements, such as bicuspid derotation up to 45° androot movements of upper central incisors up to 3.9 mm. In spite of thereinforced efficacy of the treatment, its clinical strength still remnants controversial among professionals, with advocates being convinced by the successfully demonstrated treated cases, as indicated by clinical evidence, in difference to opponents who argue about significant boundaries, especially in the treatment of complexmalocclusions. In spite of the available body of literature relating to Invisalign technology, its clinical presentation has been examined less thoroughly and a synthesis of the results still remains vague. Four systematic reviews about clear aligners exist in the literature: the first one was published back in 2005 and assessed the treatment effects of Invisalign; it included, nevertheless, only two studies. More recently, another three reviews have been published. The major one was last reorganized in June 2014. It included 10 studies and evaluated the control of the clear aligners on orthodontic tooth movement. The next one appraised the periodontal health during clear aligner therapy and was printed in the same year, and the most recent one was undertaken in October 2014 and encompassed four studies, since it attentive on the judgment between clear aligners and conventionalbraces.

2. Therefore, the resolution of the present review was to systematically search the literature and summarize the current available scientific evidence concerning the clinical effectiveness of the Invisalign system as principal orthodontic therapy to orthodontic patients of any age treated with this method comparing either among them or those with conventional braces and evaluating the level of efficacy in variousmalocclusions.