Digital Bonding
Digital Indirect Bonding is the latest innovation that we have adopted in our practice. Utilizing this technology, Dr. Doug can design your braces treatment and simulate the result, all before you ever get your braces!
One of the most important aspects after we plan your treatment, is bonding each bracket/brace in a very specific position on each tooth, which will determine the final position of that tooth.
The position is different for every tooth and every patient, based on how we want the tooth to move once the wire is placed in all the braces. Traditionally this “bonding” procedure of placing all the braces on the teeth is done one by one by the doctor, and like any skill, Dr. Doug has refined his technique over the years.
However, many variables can lead to inaccuracies, such as the patient moving, inability to visualize accurately due to the cheeks, lips and tongue, etc. All inaccuracies can be compensated for later on in treatment, but obviously this takes more time and can extend each visit as well as the overall treatment time.
Dr. Doug now uses digital planning software to measure and determine the ideal placement of each bracket on every tooth, AND allow visualization of what the final tooth position will be based on that placement! It starts with a 3D-digital scan of the teeth which we already perform on every new patient. From there, after reviewing all the patient records, including xrays, 3D scan and photos, Dr. Doug designs each patient’s bracket positions on the software and then generates custom 3D printed digital bonding trays with the braces inserted into them that fit the patients teeth exactly, and has the braces placed exactly in the position as determined on the software!
One of the drawbacks of indirect bonding systems in the past has always been the excessive adhesive that cannot be removed prior to light curing, as the presence of the custom tray prevents this. Leaving excessive adhesive around each bracket, besides being messy, will greatly increase the risk of decay/cavities. Removing it would require a drill to be used on each tooth and could take as much time as placing brackets individually by hand, thus negating the time saving benefit. Additionally, this process can be very uncomfortable for patients which negates the improved patient experience of indirect bonding.
To eliminate these drawbacks we use Solventum (formerly 3M Orthodontics) “APC flash-free” brackets eliminate the need for any adhesive/flash removal. They also have been shown to reduce the risk of unwanted decalcification (unsightly permanent white spots) around brackets compared to manually removing excessive adhesive by hand with traditional
Now all the braces can be placed on at once, rather than one by one! Some of the major benefits are as follows:
- A much shorter and comfortable bonding appointment for the patient
- More accurate bracket positions on each tooth
- Possible shorter overall treatment times as a result of accuracy
- Less risk of unsightly decalcifications/white spots