Enhanced Biogel Formulation for Dental Clear Aligner

Patent Granted In dental treatment, clear aligners are successful alternatives to the conventional fixed appliances or braces in achieving physiological orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). However, its control of dental movement is not absolute and attachments, usually made of tooth-coloured dental composite resins, are inserted at precise locations to allow the aligners to grip the teeth and guide them into their new locations. This procedure takes up clinical time and increases the cost to the clinicians. Moreover, these attachments protrude off from the surface of the teeth making the appliance obviously visible and may also potentially increase patient’s discomfort as they scratch the insides of the patient’s mouth. Upon completion of treatment, these attachments need to be removed and the enamel surfaces of the teeth may potentially be scratched or damaged. This invention introduces a Biogel material that will be applied and act as an interface layer between the clear aligner and the clinical crowns of the teeth. As a base and catalyst, the Biogel, a 2-part mixture sets into a semi-solid form after the clear aligner is inserted onto the teeth. The Biogel is a thin interface that engages the undercuts of the teeth, grips the dentition to enhance the transfer of active orthodontic forces from the clear aligners onto the teeth without the need for placement of attachments. The Biogel does not adhere to the teeth but rather the internal surfaces of the clear aligners and can be easily peeled off clean and replaced as required.