Dr Dan Shaffer explains why Luna Flow is the ideal choice for composite attachments in Active Aligner treatments
As clear aligner treatments continue to grow in popularity, dentists are always seeking the best materials and techniques to enhance the treatment experience for both themselves and their patients. One crucial aspect of aligner therapy is the placement of composite attachments, which help ensure precise tooth movement and optimal results. Choosing the right composite material is essential for achieving long-lasting, effective results with minimal discomfort for your patients.
In this blog, we’ll discuss why SDI’s Luna Flow Flowable composite is the ideal material for placing composite attachments for Active Aligners and how it can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your treatments.
What are composite attachments?
Composite attachments are small, tooth-coloured “bumps” bonded to specific teeth during clear aligner treatment. They act as anchor points for the aligners, providing the necessary grip to facilitate controlled tooth movement. Attachments are particularly useful for complex movements such as rotations, extrusions, or bite adjustments.
The quality and durability of the composite material used to place these attachments directly impact the success of the treatment. A poor bond, weak material, or difficult-to-work-with product can lead to issues like detachment or failure to move the teeth as planned.
Why choose Luna Flow composite?
SDI’s Luna Flow Flowable Composite is rapidly becoming the material of choice for placing composite attachments in clear aligner treatments, including those using Active Aligners. Here’s why:
1. Superior flowability and adaptability
The primary feature that sets Lunaflow apart is its excellent flowability. Flowable composites are designed to spread smoothly and evenly over the surface of the tooth, allowing for easy and precise placement. Luna Flow’s flowable nature ensures you can place composite attachments with high accuracy and minimal effort.
For Active Aligner treatments, precision is critical, as the attachment needs to be positioned exactly as specified in the treatment plan to support the desired tooth movement. Lunaflow’s consistency means you can easily adapt the material to create attachments that fit seamlessly on the tooth’s anatomy.
2. Great handling and ease of use
Luna Flow is easy to handle, giving you the control needed for detailed, intricate work. Its viscosity is perfectly balanced—not too runny, but also not too thick—allowing you to sculpt the composite into the precise shape and size required for each attachment. This makes it particularly suitable for the detailed work required in clear aligner treatments, where precision and accuracy are paramount.
With Luna Flow, you can sculpt the composite attachment quickly and effectively, without worrying about the material setting too quickly or too slowly. This speed and ease of use translate into a smoother workflow for you and a more comfortable experience for your patient.
3. Durability and long-lasting bond strength
One of the main concerns with composite attachments is ensuring that they stay securely in place throughout the treatment. Luna Flow has excellent bond strength that ensures the attachments remain durable, even in the face of the forces generated by aligner movement. This reduces the likelihood of attachment failure, which can disrupt treatment and cause delays.
Furthermore, Luna Flow is resistant to staining and wear, meaning your attachments will maintain their appearance and functionality throughout the course of the treatment. For patients undergoing long-term aligner therapy, this is particularly important, as it helps maintain both the aesthetics and effectiveness of their treatment.
Patients today are more conscious than ever about the aesthetic outcomes of their orthodontic treatment. Luna Flow is available in a range of shades that match natural tooth colours, ensuring that composite attachments blend seamlessly with the surrounding teeth. This aesthetic advantage is especially important for adult patients who want to avoid obvious attachments that can be visible when they smile.
For Active Aligner treatments, which often require more aesthetic considerations due to the need for attachments on visible teeth, Luna Flow offers a solution that supports both the treatment’s effectiveness and its cosmetic outcomes.
5. Compatibility with Active Aligners workflow
Active Aligners is known for its efficient, predictable, and patient-friendly workflow. The Luna Flow composite integrates perfectly into this system, supporting the straightforward, streamlined approach that Active Aligners aims to provide. The ease with which Luna Flow can be applied allows for quick and precise attachment placement, ensuring that the treatment plan can proceed as expected without unnecessary delays.
Because Luna Flow can be easily shaped and contoured to the exact requirements of the Active Aligners treatment plan, you can trust that the material will work in harmony with your digital treatment designs, providing a cohesive treatment experience from start to finish.
6. Excellent Radiopacity
An often-overlooked benefit of Luna Flow is its high radiopacity. When you take X-rays, Luna Flow appears clearly on radiographs, which can help assess the attachment during treatment. This radiopacity allows you to ensure that the composite material stays securely in place, even as the aligners apply pressure to the teeth. It also helps monitor attachment integrity and identify any potential issues early.
A perfect fit for Active Aligners
Precision, ease of use, and aesthetic appeal make Luna Flow an ideal material for placing composite attachments in Active Aligner treatments. It complements the Active Aligners digital workflow, allowing you to provide high-quality results on time.
Whether you’re using Luna Flow for complex movements or simple adjustments, it gives you the confidence that your attachments will be secure and effective throughout the course of treatment. The simplicity and predictability of Luna Flow’s handling make it the go-to choice for many dentists working with clear aligners.
Benefits of using Luna Flow with Active Aligners
- Enhanced precision: Luna Flow‘s flowable consistency makes placing attachments in the right position easier, improving treatment predictability.
- Streamlined workflow: The material’s excellent handling properties allow for fast, efficient placement, keeping your practice running smoothly.
- Aesthetic results: The material blends seamlessly with natural tooth colour, ensuring that patients can feel confident in their appearance during treatment.
- Durability: Luna Flow’s bond strength ensures that attachments remain secure throughout treatment, reducing the need for replacements or adjustments.
Conclusion
As clear aligner treatments continue to evolve, having the right materials at your disposal is more important than ever. Luna Flow provides UK dentists with a high-quality, reliable solution for placing composite attachments that will support precise tooth movement and achieve optimal treatment outcomes.
By choosing Luna Flow, you’re investing in a product that combines ease of use, durability and aesthetic quality—all critical factors for successful Active Aligner treatments. With Luna Flow, you can offer your patients a smoother, more comfortable treatment journey while achieving superior results.
To find out more about Luna Flow, contact us or book a Lunch & Learn.
Dr Dan Shaffer is a highly experienced dentist, dental technician and educator with a passion for digital dentistry. As co-founder and clinical lead of Active Aligners UK, he runs a respected private digital restorative practice in Hertfordshire and has spent over two decades training dental professionals, lecturing internationally, and contributing to dentolegal and digital dental education.