Cap for teeth

Braces are the most common orthodontic method for correction of occlusion and other teeth alignment disorders. Yet, they are not suitable for everyone and cause certain inconvenience to patients. This prompted the development of new orthodontic technologies. The use of caps (aligners) became an alternative to fixed braces.

Caps are a removable structure used to move teeth gradually and consistently for their alignment. Their main purpose is to shape a bite that is as close to the physiological one as possible. This is important, since any disorder associated with the position of the upper and lower dentitions relative to each other can cause increased abrasion, reduce their useful life, lead to undesirable changes in the shape of the face, headaches, and other pathological phenomena.

Caps are custom-made from a special transparent material on the basis of casts, moulds, or scans of the patient’s teeth. They are very thin, fit the dentitions snugly, bring less discomfort than braces, are easy to wear and take care of.

Alignment caps are usually recommended for adolescents above 14 years of age, but sometimes such treatment can be prescribed earlier — at 12 years of age. They should be worn for 20–22 hours a day; changes can be visible in 1–2 months.

Indications for Caps Use:

1. Tremae (lack of contact between the lateral surfaces of the teeth) and diastemae (a gap of more than 1.5 mm between the anterior teeth). Patients may be not bothered by such defects, so they do not always seek help. However, these defects contribute to teeth loosening, uneven load, increased risk of caries, gum disease and further malocclusion, therefore they require correction. An HP makes the decision on the need for correction.

1. Various twists or turns of the anterior teeth. Most often, these are caused by the lack of space for proper positioning of the teeth. Mouth guards ensure that the teeth are relocated to the correct position.

1. Moderate intrusion of the anterior teeth. This concerns tooth immersion into the socket, which is also called a hammered dislocation. The condition can be caused by a fall or a blow into the incisal part of the tooth.

1. Minor cross-bite. Pathology can be associated with both congenital and acquired causes, including caries, severe periodontitis, disordered teeth eruption. In this case, the lower and upper dentitions intersect. The manifestations include asymmetry of the face, constant biting of the mucosa, teeth abrasion.

1. Further treatment with braces. Manufacturers are constantly improving aligner systems, but severe malocclusion, tooth twists, movement or intrusion by more than 2 mm require more complex long-term treatment. Usually it begins with brace installation. In such cases caps are only used at the final stages.

There are certain contraindications for the use of caps. These include: severe diseases of the internal organs and nervous system, mental disorders, the acute stage of a periodontal disease and other diseases of the oral cavity, jaw maldevelopment, and non-erupted teeth.

Aligners are used in the cases when braces are contraindicated, e. g., if a patient needs to move just 1 or 2 teeth or in excessive tooth mobility, when braces deliver too much pressure.

The modern technology for the manufacture of aligners involves digital modelling and high-precision computer software, which virtually eliminates possible errors. The treatment is controlled by an orthodontist who uses special software. You can see the result even before the correction begins by means of computer visualisation programmes.

The cost of caps depends on the severity of disorders, the number of aligners per course, and the manufacturer.

Caps Types

Aligners differ by the materials used, manufacturing methods, and some other characteristics. Caps for occlusion correction can be:

• They are manufactured on the basis of a specific template and are ready for use. They are relatively cheap, but the result can be obtained only with minimum malocclusion. They are not used in professional dentistry.
• Custom-made. These are the most effective, made on the basis of casts or 3D models of the jaw for each patient individually. They are changed depending on the clinical situation every two weeks until the desired result is achieved.
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Caps Care

Prior to caps installation, the patient receives all the care recommendations. It is sufficient to wash the aligners daily with running water and brush them with a toothbrush. The patient should control the temperature of the water, since the caps can be deformed subject to high temperatures. Even if the cap does not look dirty, it must be cleaned. Otherwise, microbes can accumulate on its surface, which increases the risk of dental caries and affects the aesthetic appearance of the caps.

Teeth should be cleaned as usual, preferably after each meal. Flossing is also recommended. Enamel is not damaged or abrased by caps. Professional cleaning is provided once every 3–6 months.

Duration of Treatment

Even minor movement of teeth is a very slow process, so treatment with orthodontic caps are a time-consuming process. The minimum duration is 4 to 6 months, for more complex disorders it may reach up to 2.5 years. To accelerate changes, one may resort to phased treatment, when at first braces are prescribed, followed by aligners.

Sometimes 1 or 2 months is enough to notice the first results subject to regular use.

Cost of Treatment

The cost of caps depends on the material and the required number of aligners. Even for patients in Kyiv or other Ukrainian cities, original Invisaline caps are custom-made in the USA. On the one hand, such approach guarantees quality, and on the other hand, it makes this treatment method quite expensive.