Why Scanning Matters During Aalto Clear Aligner Treatment

Starting clear aligner treatment is an exciting step towards achieving a straighter smile. But getting the best possible result isn’t just about wearing your aligners — it’s also about monitoring your treatment as your teeth move.

At Aalto, we use regular digital scans to track your progress and make sure your treatment is progressing as planned.

That’s why we ask patients using Aalto clear aligners to complete a scan every two weeks using the Aalto Scanbox.

Why Do I Need to Scan Every Two Weeks?

Your teeth are constantly moving throughout clear aligner treatment. While your aligners are designed to gradually guide your teeth into their planned positions, every patient responds differently.

Fortnightly scans allow our clinical team to see how your teeth are actually moving, rather than simply relying on your original treatment plan.

Regular scans allow us to:

• Monitor your tooth movement throughout treatment

• Check that your teeth are tracking correctly

• Monitor how your aligners are fitting

• Compare your progress with your digital treatment plan

• Identify teeth that may be falling behind

• Monitor your compliance with wearing your aligners

• Identify potential issues earlier

• Make informed decisions about your treatment as it progresses

Think of your Scanbox as a progress check for your smile.

Rather than waiting until the end of your treatment to see how your teeth have responded, regular scans give us visibility throughout your clear aligner journey.

What Happens If My Teeth Aren’t Tracking?

Sometimes, teeth don't move exactly as predicted.

This can happen for several reasons. You may not be wearing your aligners for the recommended amount of time, an aligner may not be fitting correctly, or a particular tooth may simply be responding more slowly than expected.

The sooner we can identify an issue, the sooner it can be assessed.

Your fortnightly Scanbox scans give our clinical team valuable information about your progress and allow us to determine whether any changes or additional support may be required.

If we can't track your tooth movement, we can't accurately monitor your treatment.

That is why keeping up with your scans is such an important part of your Aalto treatment.

Why Is Aligner Compliance Important?

Clear aligners work when they are worn consistently and according to your treatment instructions.

If your aligners aren't being worn as recommended, your teeth may not move according to the planned schedule.

This is why scanning is so important.

Your Scanbox gives us an ongoing view of your treatment, helping us understand whether your teeth are moving as expected and whether your treatment is progressing as planned.

Your scans can also help us identify when a lack of progress may be related to compliance.

We can only properly monitor what we can see.

Two Rounds of Free Refinements

At Aalto, we want you to achieve the best possible result from your clear aligner treatment.

That’s why we provide two rounds of free refinements to help further align and fine-tune your teeth when clinically appropriate.

Refinements are additional aligners that may be required if certain teeth haven't moved exactly as planned or further adjustments are needed to achieve your treatment goals.

However, there is an important condition:

Free refinements are available only to patients who use the Aalto Scanbox and complete their required fortnightly scans.

Why?

Because refinements need to be based on accurate information about your treatment progress.

If you're not completing your scans, we don't have the same visibility into how your teeth have been moving. We can't accurately track your progress, assess compliance or determine what may have contributed to your treatment outcome.

The Scanbox allows us to monitor your treatment throughout the process, giving our clinical team the information needed to make informed decisions about your next steps.

What If I Haven’t Been Scanning?

If you haven't been completing your required fortnightly scans, you may still be able to have further refinement aligners if they are clinically appropriate. However, these refinements will not be included as part of your two free refinement rounds and an additional cost will apply.

Before new refinement aligners can be created, you'll need to complete a new scan in clinic so our clinical team can accurately assess the current position of your teeth and determine what further movement is required.

Once your new scan has been reviewed, we can assess your treatment and create a new refinement plan if appropriate. The cost of the new refinement aligners will then apply.

This is why keeping up with your fortnightly Aalto Scanbox scans is so important. Regular scanning helps us monitor your treatment from start to finish and ensures you have access to your two included rounds of refinements, when clinically appropriate, without the additional refinement cost.

Your Scanbox Is More Than a Progress Photo

It might feel like your fortnightly scan is simply another task to remember, but it plays an important role in your Aalto clear aligner treatment.

Each scan provides another snapshot of your teeth and helps us build a picture of how your treatment is progressing over time.

Your initial scan shows us where you started.

Your fortnightly scans show us how your teeth are moving.

Your final scans help us assess where you have finished.

This ongoing monitoring allows us to identify potential issues and make informed clinical decisions throughout your treatment.

What If I Miss a Scan?

Life gets busy — we understand.

If you accidentally miss a scan, complete it as soon as you can and return to your regular fortnightly scanning schedule.

The important thing is to stay consistent.

If you're having trouble using your Scanbox, your aligners don't seem to be fitting correctly, or you're concerned about your progress, contact Aalto team for assistance.

Getting the Most From Your Clear Aligners

If you want to give yourself the best chance of achieving your planned smile, make sure you:

• Wear your aligners as instructed

• Complete your fortnightly Aalto Scanbox scans

• Follow your treatment plan

• Keep your aligners clean

• Change your aligners according to your prescribed schedule
  

• Stay consistent with your Scanbox scans

Remember:

Your aligners move your teeth.
Your scans help us monitor that movement.

Both are important parts of your Aalto clear aligner journey.