Introduction

Over the years, with an increasing number of patients seeking aesthetic orthodontic correction, aligner progress-tracking apps have marked a technological revolution in the field of orthodontics.

These apps use your images and, with the help of advanced technology and artificial intelligence, help to guide factors such as aligner compliance and aligner fit, also checking whether your tooth movement is going as planned.

All you have to do is take a few photos of your teeth and upload them to the app. The app will then analyze these photographs and help to track the progress of your aligner treatment.

By using these aligner progress tracking apps, studies have shown not only faster treatment results but also good, predicted tooth movement. These apps allow your dentist to monitor your treatment, enhancing your accuracy and efficiency of treatment by providing guidance and adjustments at an early stage.

These apps are designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of your treatment, ensuring that your treatment goes as planned. The key features to look for include:

Aligner Change: These apps should remind you when you are supposed to change to your next set of aligners (every 1-2 weeks), based on your doctor’s recommendation. Details such as how many more days you should wear your current set of aligners and your overall treatment time should be mentioned.

Aligner Fit Detection: An aligner tracking app will help to check if your aligner fits well with the help of photos you upload. Any fit issue should be detected and corrected at an early stage, thereby helping you achieve your dream smile in the promised time.

Aligner Wear Time Monitoring: These apps help to track how long you wear your aligner per day. If you do not meet the required hours (20-22 hours/day), these apps should alert the patient and the doctor.

Communication Tool: Any aligner tracking app should allow its users to easily communicate with their specialist or schedule an appointment with their specialist about any issues that they are facing, such as improper fit of aligners, etc.

Guidance (Videos and FAQs): Educational resources and videos (For example, methods of cleaning your aligners and how to correctly wear your aligners) should be provided on the platform

Notifications: An aligner tracking app should provide notifications for aligner change, aligner wear, upcoming appointments, scans, etc.

Photo Comparison: These apps should allow you to compare the photos that you have uploaded by providing a side-by-side comparison. This will help you and your specialist to check how your treatment is progressing.

Hence, by using an aligner tracking app, you can ensure that your treatment is going as planned to achieve a perfect smile within the promised timeline.