Angle Class II treatment with digital aligners: a literature review

Abstract

To carry out a literature review to evaluate the use of digital aligners in the treatment of Angle Class II, in particular to highlight their effectiveness, limitations, advantages and disadvantages in relation to conventional fixed orthodontic appliances. The study was designed as a narrative literature review, and the inclusion criteria were: articles in Portuguese, published in the last 10 years, available in full and dealing with the proposed theme in their main objectives. The articles were searched for digitally in the Virtual Health Library (VHL), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Google Scholar databases, using the following descriptors: aesthetic aligners, Angle Class II and orthodontics. According to the analysis of the literature reviewed, the most recurrent design of the publications was case reports. The main advantages of aligners in relation to fixed orthodontic appliances are related to aesthetics, shorter working time and ease of hygiene, and disadvantages in relation to the limitation of biomechanical movements and patient collaboration for use because they are removable appliances, while fixed appliances have more satisfactory finishes, greater occlusion stability and the ability to perform more movements. Aligners are a treatment option for Class II malocclusion with satisfactory results; however, they have advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional fixed appliances, and both must be taken into account so that they have assertive indications and meet patients' needs, combining aesthetics, function and health.