The aim of the system is the use of elastic materials in manufacturing aligners. The orthocaps® System (TwinAligner). The system focuses on elastic materials for making aligners. The orthocaps® System (TwinAligner®) also uses two different types of aligners for each treatment step. This technique ensures the application of optimal forces by using different thicknesses of elastic materials for aligners worn at night or during the day (DayCaps/NightCaps).
The mechanotransduction (transfer of force) of orthodontic forces triggers a tissue response that leads to orthodontic tooth movement. Teeth and the surrounding tissue do not distinguish between force generated by aligners or by other types of appliances. The factors determining the quality and quantity of orthodontic tooth movement are heavily dependent on the force system used, including the magnitude, duration, and dynamics of the force, as well as the underlying tissue response. It is therefore essential that appliance design, material properties of thermoplastics, and the interface between tooth and appliance support the creation of a force system enabling controlled, effective, and safe tooth movements.
Various thermoplastic materials are available for making aligners. They differ not only in composition and thickness but also in properties like elasticity, which is crucial for tooth movement. The choice of material largely depends on the type and extent of the tooth movement required, the necessary force levels, and the condition and health of the underlying tissue.
Elasticity is the most important property for controlled tooth movements. The elastic deformation of aligner materials produces the force necessary to move teeth. Elastic materials can be flexed or deformed more without losing their shape. This deformation arises from the difference in tooth position between the setup model on which the aligners are fabricated and the patient’s actual tooth position. If the aligner material is elastic, it returns entirely to its original shape once removed from the mouth. This means the aligner remains active and continues applying force until it returns to its original shape, thereby effectively moving the teeth. In contrast, unelastic or rigid materials undergo plastic deformation at lower bending (strain) levels, losing their shape and therefore no longer able to move teeth. This is why rigid materials are less effective than elastic materials for aligners.
There are many different types of attachments that can increase the effectiveness of tooth movement with orthocaps®. The use of soft and elastic materials also facilitates the use of attachment types that are not feasible with rigid or hard materials.
In addition to standard attachments, a new type of attachment has been developed at the Ortho Caps Center in Germany, known as a “Friction Pad.” This pad is a flat, textured surface bonded to the tooth to increase friction between the inner surface of the aligner and the tooth. The advantage of “Friction Pads” is that these textured surfaces are only a fraction of a millimeter thick, making them almost invisible under normal circumstances and thus more acceptable to patients. Attachments or friction pads are bonded to teeth using indirect bonding techniques. Pre-formed attachments or friction pads are included in the first aligners for indirect bonding. This aesthetic advantage over conventional attachments makes this type of bonded retention aid much more acceptable to patients seeking an invisible treatment option.
orthocaps® aligners are manufactured in our production facility in Germany. That guarantees the highest quality standards, short shipping distances, and quick response times. Revolutionize orthodontics with orthocaps®.
