Oral Impacts of Aligners versus Fixed Self-Ligating Lingual Orthodontic Appliances

Gerassimos G Angelopoulos,Panagiotis Kanarelis,Ageliki Zavlanou,Georgia Vagdouti,Iosif Sifakakis

doi:10.3390/app112110074

Gerassimos G Angelopoulos, Panagiotis Kanarelis + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110074

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Abstract

The aim of this prospective study was to compare a fixed lingual orthodontic appliance with a commonly used aligner system, focusing on oral impacts and speech disturbances, during the first 3 months of orthodontic treatment. Two groups of adults were evaluated: 21 treated with Invisalign® and 26 with In-Ovation L® lingual brackets. Health-related quality of life questionnaires were used to assess the oral impacts, and speech samples were collected for speech evaluation by professionals. The levels of pain and painkiller intake were similar, increasing on the first day, and decreasing at 3 months. Subtle injuries on the lip and cheeks were initially reported in the aligner group. Lingual patients experienced more discomfort in swallowing and opening the mouth, tongue injuries and food residues, even at 3 months. The consonants “s” and “z” were mainly affected in both groups immediately after appliance insertion, but more often in the aligner group. These speech disturbances recovered in the following 3 months. In conclusion, both groups reported disturbances in quality-of-life measures; however, patients wearing lingual appliances experienced more disturbances, which persisted after three months. Speech disturbances were slightly more pronounced in the aligner group and recovered after three months.

Highlights

In recent years, the demand for and the provision of aesthetic orthodontic treatment appliances have increased among patients
All patients treated with the Invisalign® appliance were supervised by an experienced Invisalign instructor, whereas all patients with lingual appliances were supervised by an experienced lingual appliance instructor
−1.9 (−3.9, −0.0; p = 0.047), and at T3, 0.2 (−1.8, 2.1; p ≤ 0.872) (Figure 7). This prospective study investigated the oral impacts of aligners vs. SLLA, as expeThis prospective study investigated the oral impacts of aligners vs. SLLA, as experirienced by the patients, as well as the speech disturbances, evaluated by professionals, enced by the patients, as well as the speech disturbances, evaluated by professionals, durduring the first 3 months of orthodontic treatment

Summary

Introduction

The demand for and the provision of aesthetic orthodontic treatment appliances have increased among patients. This trend reflects an acceptance that invisible orthodontic appliances, namely, clear aligners and lingual brackets, are preferable for adults, in terms of appearance, to more traditional orthodontic appliances [1,2,3]. The aesthetic advantages of these appliances over conventional buccal appliances have contributed to a shift in the demographic of the orthodontic patient population to increase the percentage of adults [1]. Adaptation difficulties may affect patient perception and compliance, and treatment outcome. Discomfort and pain, for example, are well-documented sequelae encountered during the course of orthodontic treatment.

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