Getting Started with Clear Aligners Checklist - Recommended Products

Dandy is committed to your success and wants to ensure you have everything you need to implement and offer Clear Aligners at your practice. We have compiled a list of recommended products along with pro tips that will make getting started with Clear Aligners easier. Click on the links below to purchase each product for your practice.

Interproximal Reduction (IPR) 

Diamond Strips for .2mm or less of IPR 

These are diamond strips used to perform IPR in small incremental amounts. 

PRO TIP: The diamond strip is .1mm, for cases where .2mm is required, simply fold the strip in half.

Mosquito bur for .3mm or more of IPR 

Mosquito burs allow you to perform IPR in larger amounts. 

PRO TIP: The mosquito bur tip is roughly 0.3mm in diameter, and can be used for IPR between 0.3-0.5mm.

Christmas Tree Bur 

This bur may be used to contour the line angles. 

PRO TIP: The diamond strip is .1mm, for cases where .2mm is required simply fold the strip in half.

IPR Gauge 

IPR gauge is used to measure the amount of IPR that was actually performed. 

Attachment Placement

To place attachments, you will need the following items as well as some instruments and materials which you most likely have such as mirror, explorer, scaler, etch, bonding agent, cotton roles, micro brushes, curing light,  and flame tip or football polishing bur to remove flash. 

NOLA Dry Field Systems 

For successful attachment placement using the NOLA Dry Field Systems is HIGHLY recommended. Using this will ensure you have proper isolation when placing attachments. See our article “How to place Aligner Attachments”  for more information.
PRO TIP: Use this to maintain isolation for bonding. If you’re having many bond failures, this will help. 

Assure Plus 

Universal bonding agent. It is the gold standard for attachment placement. 

Shofu Beautifil Flow Plus 

This is a flowable composite to use for attachments. 

PRO TIP: Put the syringe tip deep inside the well so the composite flows from in to out. That way you get less bubbles and voids in your attachments. Always slightly overfill your attachment wells to accommodate for composite shrinkage during curing process. 

3M Transbond 

This one does double duty - used for attachments AND bonding of lingual retainers. 

PRO TIP: This material is more of a paste and should be packed into the wells. Try both to see if you prefer a flowable or paste composite. 

Attachment Removal 

Carbide Finishing Bur

This bur will be needed to remove attachments. 

Debonding Finishing Bur 

This will be needed to remove attachments.

Dimple Pliers 

Dimple pliers may be needed to help a tooth that isn’t moving as planned. Below are several pliers and when they are best used. It’s a good idea to have them in your arsenal. These pliers can be purchased from any vendor. 

Vertical Dimple Plier

Used to facilitate rotations.

Tear Drop Plier 

Used to create a slit in aligner for rubber bands. 

Horizontal Dimple Plier 

Used for moving teeth in and out, tipping & torquing.

Hole Punch Plier

Used to create a hole in the aligner to accommodate a button or bracket to be bonded to the tooth. 

Dimple Removing Plier 

Removes dimple placed on aligner. 

Ortho Records - Extraoral images 

Solid white and/or black backdrop 

If your practice has a solid light or dark colored wall you won’t need this. Just make sure the area you will use doesn’t have artifacts on it which will be captured in the picture frame (i.e. soap dispenser, art,  paper towel dispenser, etc). 

Stool/Platform 

At times, you will have a patient who is taller or shorter than the staff member taking the picture. In these cases, a step stool should be used to capture the extraoral images. Patient and photographer should be at eye level. 

Ortho Records - Intraoral images

Dental Photography Kit for Smartphones, Dental Photography Kit Option #2 

Good dental photography requires the use of a Macro lens, good lighting, and proper cheek retraction. This kit allows you to transform your phone into a macro lens with ring flash, and comes with many of the cheek retractors you’ll need to take proper photos. 

Cheek Retractors, Cheek Retractors - Option #2 

Cheek retractors make it easy to get the lips and cheeks out of the way for proper photos. 

Occlusal Cheek Retractors 

Occlusal cheek retractors allow you to retract the lips during occlusal photos. Normal cheek retractors can also be used for this, but may get in the way of the occlusal mirrors. 

Intraoral Mirrors 

Glass mirrors are superior to their steel counterparts. Better at reflecting light and resisting scratches.  Intra-oral mirrors are necessary to take proper occlusal photos. 

Learn more about ortho records best practices in our article and video: How to take Clinical Photos for Your Aligner Case

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