Clear Aligner Support for Dentists Who Want More Than a Treatment Plan
Work with an experienced orthodontic colleague for case selection, diagnosis, digital planning, treatment guidance, monitoring, troubleshooting, and ongoing clinical support.
Whether you are new to clear aligners or already treating more difficult cases, the level of support can be matched to your experience and the way you want to work.
Guidance today. Independence tomorrow.
Clinical Thinking Beyond Straight Teeth
Dr. Kruger’s protocols may include principles from Airway Orthodontics, Postural Orthodontics, Full Face Orthodontics, and Chirodontics®.
The treatment approach may consider airway, posture, jaw position, facial balance, muscle function, TMJ symptoms, growth, and long-term stability. The goal is not simply straight teeth.
These factors do not mean that every concern can or should be treated with clear aligners.
The treatment approach must remain appropriate for the individual patient, the available records, and the treating dentist’s clinical findings.
Clinical Support Matched to Your Experience
Expert Clinical Planning
Review records, identify treatment objectives, recognize limitations, and build a practical digital plan.
Support That Can Change Over Time
Start with close guidance, move toward greater independence, or use Clear Aligners Direct for difficult decisions and second opinions.
Conventional Thermoformed Aligners
Thermoformed aligners are the current production standard. Triple-layer thermoform material is preferred where available and appropriate.
International Production Options
Production may be arranged through a United States laboratory, a regional laboratory, an existing laboratory, or a validated in-office workflow.
Ongoing Case Guidance
Support can continue after approval for progress, refinements, finishing, and unexpected problems.
Practical Professional Development
Learn through real cases rather than being left to apply a one-time course without ongoing clinical support.
More Than Aligner Design
Clear Aligners Direct Clinical Partnership is not simply an aligner-design service, a laboratory, or a one-time training course.
It is an ongoing professional partnership for dentists who want experienced support before, during, and after treatment planning.
Clear aligners are the appliance. The partnership is the service.
Support may include:
- Case selection
- Records review
- Orthodontic and functional analysis
- Digital treatment planning
- Clinical mentoring
- Progress monitoring
- Troubleshooting
- Refinements
- Finishing guidance
- Production planning
- Patient communication support where agreed
You can begin with close guidance and gradually take greater control as your knowledge and confidence develop.
Guidance today. Independence tomorrow.
How the Partnership Develops
Start With Close Guidance
Receive help with records, case selection, diagnosis, digital planning, and the first clinical steps.
Build Confidence Through Real Cases
As your experience develops, you can manage more of the routine process while still getting support with planning, monitoring, refinements, and difficult decisions.
Work More Independently
Over time, Clear Aligners Direct can become mainly an experienced colleague and second opinion.
The support can change as your experience, confidence, and individual cases change.
One Partnership, Three Levels of Support
Planning and Second Opinion
For experienced dentists who mainly want help with:
- Case selection
- Records review
- Orthodontic and functional analysis
- Digital treatment planning
- Refinement planning
- Troubleshooting
- Difficult clinical decisions
- Second opinions
The dentist keeps routine monitoring, production, patient communication, and in-person care.
Supported Treatment
For dentists who remain the treating clinician but want guidance throughout the case.
- Everything in Planning and Second Opinion
- Records-quality review
- Case-selection guidance
- Progress reviews
- Aligner-fit assessment
- Advice about attachments
- Advice about elastics or other auxiliaries where appropriate
- Refinement planning
- Finishing guidance
- Troubleshooting
- Production-route guidance
This level suits many dentists who want support without handing over the routine chairside role.
Full Clinical Partnership
For dentists who want close involvement while building experience or managing more complicated treatment.
- Everything in Supported Treatment
- Detailed involvement from the beginning
- Ongoing monitoring
- Refinement management
- Treatment troubleshooting
- Regular mentoring
- Workflow development
- Case-presentation support
- Patient communication support where specifically agreed
- Practice-system support where agreed
The exact responsibilities are agreed before treatment begins.
Who Does What?
The Treating Dentist
The dentist remains responsible for the clinical care personally provided to the patient.
Depending on the case and local requirements, this may include:
- Examining the patient
- Reviewing medical, dental, periodontal, and restorative health
- Taking scans, photographs, and radiographs
- Obtaining local consent and maintaining clinical records
- Placing attachments
- Performing interproximal reduction where appropriate
- Fitting elastics or other auxiliaries
- Providing in-person clinical treatment
- Responding to urgent local clinical concerns
- Coordinating local production or laboratory services where applicable
Clear Aligners Direct
The support provided depends on the agreed partnership level and may include:
- Reviewing records
- Helping assess case suitability
- Orthodontic and functional analysis
- Digital treatment planning
- Aligner-design guidance
- Clinical mentoring
- Progress monitoring
- Refinement planning
- Finishing guidance
- Troubleshooting
- Production guidance
- Patient communication support where included
Clear Aligners Direct does not replace the treating dentist’s local examination, professional judgment, licensing obligations, or responsibility for the in-person care they provide.
How the Aligners Are Produced
Laboratory Choice
Production can use a United States laboratory, a regional laboratory, or an existing laboratory relationship.
In-Office Workflow
A validated in-office thermoforming workflow can also be used where the equipment and process are suitable.
Material Standard
Conventional thermoformed aligners are the current standard.
Material Preference
Triple-layer thermoform material is preferred where it is available, suitable, and supported by the route chosen.
International Clinical Partnership
Records Collected Locally
Scans, photos, radiographs, and notes are collected where the dentist and patient are located.
Remote Review
Digital records are reviewed securely for planning or mentoring.
Local Clinical Care
The local dentist completes the in-person procedures and any required follow-up care.
Country-Specific Fit
Each arrangement must fit the laws, licensing requirements, laboratory rules, and professional standards in that country.
No single production or clinical arrangement is assumed to be suitable in every country.
How a Case Works
Start With a Conversation
Discuss your experience, the support you want, and the kinds of cases you expect to treat.
Submit the Records
Provide scans, photographs, radiographs, health information, and relevant clinical notes.
Review Case Suitability
Records, objectives, limitations, risks, and the proposed approach are reviewed before the case proceeds.
Agree on Responsibilities and Production
Confirm who will manage each part of the treatment and how the aligners will be produced.
Develop the Digital Plan
Proposed tooth movements, attachments, auxiliaries, staging, and treatment limits are reviewed.
Produce, Monitor, and Finish
Aligners are produced through the agreed route, then progress, refinements, and finishing are managed as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need previous clear-aligner experience?
No specific level of previous clear-aligner experience is required to begin a discussion.
Dentists with limited experience will normally need closer support, careful case selection, and simpler initial cases. Experienced dentists may use the partnership mainly for planning, difficult cases, troubleshooting, or second opinions.
Who remains responsible for the patient?
The local dentist remains the treating clinician and is responsible for the examination, local diagnosis and documentation required in their jurisdiction, informed consent, in-person procedures, and the clinical care they personally provide.
Clear Aligners Direct provides the agreed planning, mentoring, monitoring, and support services.
Can I work with Clear Aligners Direct outside the United States?
Potentially, yes.
The clinical, production, communication, and payment arrangements must be reviewed for the dentist’s country and circumstances before cases begin.
Who produces the aligners?
Production may be completed through an established United States laboratory, a suitable regional or local laboratory, or a validated in-office thermoforming workflow.
The production route is separate from the level of clinical support.
Do I need my own printer or laboratory?
No.
Some dentists may use a regional laboratory or an existing laboratory relationship. Others may use an appropriate in-office workflow where the equipment, materials, training, and quality-control process are suitable.
What records are required?
The exact requirements depend on the case, but commonly include:
- Upper and lower digital scans
- An accurate bite scan
- Extraoral photographs
- Intraoral photographs
- Appropriate radiographs
- Medical and dental history
- Periodontal and restorative findings
- Treatment concerns and objectives
Incomplete or inaccurate records can make reliable planning impossible.
Can you help with difficult existing cases?
Yes, some existing or stalled cases can be reviewed.
The available records, current aligner stage, treatment history, patient cooperation, existing attachments, production method, and current clinical condition will need to be assessed first.
Support cannot be guaranteed until the case has been reviewed.
How involved will I remain?
You remain the treating dentist and provide the in-person clinical care.
Your involvement in routine monitoring, patient communication, production coordination, and treatment decisions depends on the support level agreed for the case.
Can I become more independent over time?
Yes. That is one of the main purposes of the Clinical Partnership.
The goal is not to keep dentists permanently dependent. The goal is to help them develop sound clinical judgment through supported real-world treatment.
How are refinements and monitoring managed?
This depends on the selected support level.
Some dentists manage routine monitoring and request help only when needed. Others receive scheduled progress reviews, refinement guidance, or closer ongoing involvement.
Are all cases suitable for clear aligners?
No.
Some cases require a different appliance, additional treatment, referral, surgery, restorative care, periodontal treatment, or management outside the scope of the partnership.
Cases should proceed only when the available approach is clinically appropriate.
How do we begin?
Start with an informal conversation.
You can book a video call, send a WhatsApp message, or contact Clear Aligners Direct by email. There is no formal application process required simply to discuss the partnership or a possible case.
Start With a Conversation
You do not need to decide on a permanent support level before making contact.
Tell us about your experience, your location, the kind of support you need, or a case you would like to discuss.
Choose the contact method that is easiest for you. We can then decide whether the best next step is a short video call, a WhatsApp conversation, or email.
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Testimonials