Dental News - Unilateral Class II correction in less than a year using leading edge aligners

Terry Sellke, DDS, MS

Sat. 2 May 2026

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Today’s consumers want to improve their bite or smile using “braces that don’t show” — meaning aligners, while getting great results quickly and with as few visits as possible. This is born of a busy generation that has no time for unnecessary office visits. Placing a high value on convenience and affordability, they “want it now, cheaply and fast.”

In line with this paradigm shift, our office has been using a revolutionary aligner system, FXClear from OrthoFX, since 2019 to achieve superior occlusal and smile results with fewer aligners, fewer visits and fewer months of treatment.

Case report

The following case highlights a patient treated with FXClear aligners (Fig. 1). She is a 14-year-old presenting with a unilateral Class II bite. On the surface, her case appears simple; however, complicating factors include a chief complaint of a history of grinding and morning dental soreness, associated with bilaterally posteriorly displaced condyles and poor incisal guidance.

Fig. 1: Initial records.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2: Treatment plan.

Fig. 3: Progress records and planned refinement.

Fig. 3

Fig. 4: Retention records obtained after an additional 10 aligners.

Fig. 4

Dr. Terry Sellke

Treatment objectives and FXClear Plan

Achieve bilateral Class I occlusion.
Establish stable occlusion with appropriate incisal guidance.
Maintain smile line and profile.

The initial treatment plan consisted of 25 aligners (Fig. 2). Based on our extensive experience with the FXClear aligner system, we have found that it requires far fewer aligners and fewer attachments than the leading brand we used previously for more than 10 years. This makes patients very happy!

Six months later, after 22 aligners, we performed a second scan for refinement. The following images show the patient’s progress at that time. Note the improvement in occlusion after six months (Fig. 3).

Summary:

Total treatment time: 10 months
Total numbers of aligners: 32
IPR required: none
Slits were placed for finishing details only
Total in office treatment visits: Three (initial placement, refine, retain)
Incisal guidance was achieved with adequate long centric to help reduce morning tooth and joint discomfort.

The findings in this case study (Fig. 4) are consistent with those we have observed with all patients treated with FXClear aligners. We are able to deliver excellent results with FXClear using fewer aligners and refinements, fewer visits and significantly shorter treatment times — leading to improved patient satisfaction.

Based on our clinical experience and an in-office study, we attribute these outcomes to FXClear’s proprietary multilayer polymer:

Lower force levels than the leading brand, resulting in less sore teeth and more physiologically appropriate tooth movement.
A greater range of movement per aligner, improving tracking.
Enhanced control of tooth movement in all planes of space, leading to more predictable occlusal outcomes with less built-in overcorrection required.

With FXClear’s greater resiliency and shape memory, we have seen virtually no refinements because of unseated aligners in our experience treating more than 1,000 cases.

Another important factor contributing to fewer in-office visits is our adoption of another paradigm shift in treatment: remote monitoring. Patients complete weekly scans that are analyzed by AI to assess aligner fit and treatment progress.

Discussion

The introduction of aligners as a treatment modality in 1999 was an irreversible addition to treatment options because patients wanted esthetics and removeable appliances and all that this technology allows — such as the ability to eat without restrictions and maintain improved oral hygiene. Busy patients have also come to expect treatment that is efficient and affordable in fewer appointments.

The future of aligner treatment will most certainly continue to evolve as advances in technology and systems lead to increased delegation and remote care. I urge my colleagues to jump on the bandwagon. It is irreversible, and you will find your life less stressful while working fewer days to treat the same number or more patients in far fewer days while enjoying superior results. The future is now, which is why I still practice and love orthodontics after five decades!

Editorial note:

Dr. Terry Sellke has more than 50 years of experience in private practice in Lake County, Ill. He served for 36 years as a professor and co-director of the orthodontic clinic at University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry, where he also acted as a research advisor. An international author and lecturer, Dr. Sellke has contributed extensively to the advancement of orthodontic education and clinical practice.