The Digital Aligner Workflow
Clear aligner treatment has transformed orthodontics, but successful outcomes depend on precise digital setup design. At Master Design Center, we design aligner setups following biomechanical principles that ensure predictable tooth movement.
Treatment Planning Steps
1. Initial Assessment: We start with the intraoral scan, evaluating crowding, spacing, overjet, overbite, and midline deviation.
2. Final Position Design: The ideal final occlusion is designed first. We work backwards from there.
3. Staging: Each stage moves teeth approximately 0.25mm. The total number of stages depends on the complexity of tooth movement required.
4. Attachment Placement: Composite attachments are designed based on the type of tooth movement needed — rotation, extrusion, intrusion, or root torque.
5. IPR Scheduling: Interproximal reduction is scheduled at specific stages to create space for alignment without compromising enamel health.
6. Final Occlusion Check: We verify that the final position achieves stable posterior occlusion with proper overjet and overbite.
Common Design Pitfalls
- Moving teeth too fast: Exceeding 0.25mm per stage risks root resorption
- Insufficient IPR: Crowding cannot resolve without adequate space creation
- Poor attachment design: The wrong attachment type for the intended movement
- Ignoring posterior occlusion: The final setup must have stable posterior contacts
Our aligner setups are exported in formats compatible with all major aligner manufacturing systems.