[Orthodontic appliance made from silicone elastomer, evaluated clinically and from patient opinions after treatment for malocclusion].

Elastodontics is a new branch of orthodontics dealing with orthodontic appliances made with silicone elastomer. The appliances are simple in construction and function, easy to use, and safe. One of the simplest is the elasto-aligner used in some forms of malocclusion. The purpose of this work was: 1) to evaluate the results of treatment of malocclusion with this type of appliance in relation to age of patient and duration of treatment; 2) to gather the opinions of patients; 3) to assess the costs and duration of treatment. 70 patients were examined clinically and asked to fill in a questionnaire (Tab. 1, 3). The elasto-aligner was especially useful when applied in malocclusion after treatment with a fixed appliance. The silicone appliance is recommended for the youngest of patients and should be worn for at least 12 hours per day (Tab. 2). Adaptation to the silicone appliance was long and the most uncomfortable symptoms were toothache, excessive salivation, and dry lips in elderly patients (Fig. 1). The time needed to make the elasto-aligner was up to 20 hours and the cost of materials varied between an acrylic activator and a fixed appliance.