Teeth Aligner System

An applicator for applying a textured surface to and delivery of a gel composition to a thermoplastic teeth aligner, the applicator comprising:

• i. a storage compartment for containing the gel composition, and a delivery end, wherein the composition includes a polysiloxane and catalyst in a predetermined ratio,
• ii. a sponge tip on or adjacent the delivery end of the barrel, the sponge tip being movable relative to or over the delivery end during egress of the gel composition,
• iii. wherein during delivery of the gel composition onto a surface of the aligner, the sponge tip applies microscopic score lines or textured surface to a surface of the dental straightening device, and
• iv. wherein the scored or textured surface is adapted to allow preferential mechanical adherence of the gel layer to the dental straightening device.

A method of providing orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) using a removable aligner, the method including the steps of:

• providing a shaped removable aligner formed of a thermoplastic and moulded to an OTM fitting shape relative to the teeth of a patient;
• applying a layer of a gel to an inner surface of a teeth-receiving cavity of the thermoplastic aligner;
• locating the shaped removable aligner with the applied gel layer in a required OTM fitting position on the teeth of the patient to provide an effective OTM force on the teeth;
• wherein the gel layer substantially separates and spaces the aligner from the teeth while providing a force transfer mechanism from the aligner to the teeth.