Invisalign offers a discreet alternative to traditional braces for teeth straightening. A sophisticated digital planning tool, ClinCheck, is integral to the Invisalign experience, allowing for a precise visualization of the entire treatment journey before it begins.
What is ClinCheck?
ClinCheck is a proprietary 3D treatment planning software for Invisalign clear aligners. It generates a virtual 3D representation of a patient’s teeth, showing their predicted movement during treatment. This digital blueprint relies on advanced imaging, starting with a digital scan using an iTero 3D scanner.
This virtual roadmap combines with diagnostic records like photographs and X-rays to create a comprehensive digital model of the patient’s mouth. ClinCheck acts as a detailed plan for the entire series of custom-made aligners, providing a visual preview of the expected outcome for both the orthodontist and patient.
How ClinCheck Guides Treatment
Orthodontists use ClinCheck software to plan each tooth movement across various aligner stages. This digital environment allows them to adjust and refine the treatment plan. This digital control enables precise customization before aligners are manufactured.
Orthodontists collaborate with ClinCheck technicians, providing instructions and modifications. Features like “ClinCheck Live Update for 3D Controls” allow real-time plan modifications, potentially reducing revision time. This collaborative planning ensures aligners achieve accurate and predictable tooth movements.
Key Information Revealed by ClinCheck
When reviewing a ClinCheck plan, patients gain a clear understanding of their treatment journey. The software simulates tooth movement from the initial position to the final alignment, showing how each tooth will shift, rotate, or tilt.
ClinCheck estimates the total number of aligners and projects the treatment duration. Patients see planned “SmartForce features,” which are small, tooth-colored attachments bonded to teeth for precise movements. The plan also indicates interproximal reduction (IPR), which removes a tiny amount of enamel between teeth to create space. The “ClinCheck Smile Video” simulates the treatment plan in a short video of the patient’s face, showing the before and after outcome.
Preparing for and Reviewing Your ClinCheck
Patients should prepare for their ClinCheck review by considering any questions or concerns. This is an opportunity to visualize proposed tooth movements and understand the treatment plan. Patients should feel comfortable discussing preferences or anxieties with their orthodontist during this review.
This is the patient’s chance to provide input and approve the digital treatment plan before aligners are manufactured. Once approved, the ClinCheck plan is used to custom-fabricate the clear aligners. Aligners are then produced, starting the patient’s journey toward a straighter smile.