Refinements/Corrections

[reevsy25]

Please can someone explain the refinements/corrections process. My ortho hasn't said anything- prob cos its way too early. Reading bits on here, I'm all confused. Some people talk of mid term corrections, which I can only assume is part way through, and others talk of 3 rounds of refinements. I take it then that my expected date of final treatment, actually isn't, or are the refinements included within that? I remember when I first saw my clincheck I was told I'd have 17 trays, but when I got them I had U20 and L11. Do those extra 3 trays take account for the refinements? I'm confused (doesn't take much! lol!)

[robin8]

The refinement and correction processes are essentially the same – a do-over with new pictures, now molds, new treatment plan and a new set of aligners.

Mid-course correction is done during the course of treatment, when the orthos/dentists notice that the teeth are not moving according to the plan due to tracking issues or unforeseen problems. (All aligners are manufactured after Clincheck is approved at the beginning of treatment.)

Refinement is usually done at the end of a set of aligners to enhance or complete the whole treatment. Simple cases (less than 6 months) usually don’t need it but complex cases may need a few rounds. Some cases need one round just to perfect the look. It all depends on the individual case.

Your extra 3 trays are not refinements; it could be because your ortho did some adjustments to the Clincheck treatment plan after meeting with you. As with any medical treatments, the “expected date of final treatment” is just an estimate. You may or may not need more than 20 trays to achieve the results you want. No one knows in advance how your teeth will move and there are many factors that could affect the progress of treatment (e.g. low compliance, poor treatment planning, difficult tooth movements, etc.)

Btw, not all orthos/dentists charge patients the same way. Some charge extra for mid-course correction and the number of included refinements vary.