Orthodontic Tooth Movements

Now let's take a look at how we define the various tooth movements involved in clear aligner treatment.

• Crown tipping: Crown tipping is a tooth movement in which the angle of the tooth's long axis is changed; the direction can be mesial, distal, labial, or lingual. (Predictable)

These definitions may be different from what you are familiar with. Please know that they are defined in this way because this is the definition understood and used by the technician at ClearCorrect. Be sure to observe this definition when discussing treatment with the technician.

• Root tipping: Root tipping is tilting the apex of the root without moving the apex of the crown; the direction can be mesial, distal, labial, or lingual. (Predictable)

These definitions may be different from what you are familiar with. Please know that they are defined in this way because this is the definition understood and used by the technician at ClearCorrect. Be sure to observe this definition when discussing treatment with the technician.

• Translation: Movement of a tooth through alveolar bone without change in axial inclination. (Predictable)

• Proclination: When anterior teeth are being inclined forward. (Predictable)

• Expansion: The therapeutic increase in the circumference of the dental arch by the buccal or labial movement of the teeth. It is a common method for creating space. (Predictable)

• Crown torque: The rotation of a tooth on its long axis. especially the movement of the apical portions of the teeth by the use of orthodontic appliances. (Moderate)

These definitions may be different from what you are familiar with. Please know that they are defined in this way because this is the definition understood and used by the technician at ClearCorrect. Be sure to observe this definition when discussing treatment with the technician.

• Rotation: The movement of a tooth around its longitudinal axis. (Moderate)

• Rotation tenet: When a tooth requires adequate space to move, first create the space and then being the rotation movement. (Moderate)

• Distalization: Moving a tooth away from the median sagittal plane of the face, following the curvature of the dental arch, usually with translation. (Moderate)

• Mesialization: Moving a tooth nearer to the midline or most anterior part of the dental arch. (Moderate)

• Intrusion: Intrusion is a movement that involves pushing a tooth gingivally toward its periodontal housing. (Difficult)

• Extrusion: The overeruption or migration of a tooth beyond its normal occlusal position. (Difficult)

• Extrusion tenet: The overeruption or migration of a tooth beyond its normal occlusal position. (Difficult)

-A tipped tooth will not extrude easily

-Place a horizontal engager

-Upright the tooth first

-Be sure there is adequate mesiodistal space

-Use IPR when needed 

-Then extrude slowly (use elastics, if necessary)