Tipton Training
A comprehensive Aligner Course, providing you with the in-depth knowledge, hands-on skills and confidence to plan, design & deliver in-house aligner solutions successfully, from an Occlusion and TMJ focus. This course is the only aligner programme in the UK that teaches orthodontics with an emphasis on occlusion and TMJ health, empowering you to manage cases confidently while avoiding potential occlusal or TMJ issues for your patients. We start with the fundamentals, covering clear aligner principles, tooth movement, case selection, and occlusal essentials, including TMJ assessment and retention techniques. From there, you’ll explore the biomechanics of aligners, learning about attachment design, predictability, and how to work within biomechanical limitations.
During the hands-on sessions, you’ll gain practical experience with aligner design software, managing various malocclusions, and creating effective staging protocols. You’ll also dive into the laboratory and manufacturing process, including 3D printing, thermoforming, and material selection for in-house production. The course concludes with clinical management, troubleshooting, and finishing techniques, covering every step from attachment placement to occlusal adjustments for secure retention. By the end, you’ll have a complete, practical understanding of how to implement clear aligner therapy, from planning and design to clinical delivery and long-term case management.
Introduction to Clear Aligner Therapy. Principles of Tooth Movement with clear aligners. Identifying Aligner Cases. TMJ Examination and categorisation of the cases. Importance of Anterior Guidance and Mutually protected occlusion. Importance of multidisciplinary approach and collaboration with Restorative dentistry. Importance of the Principles of occlusion. Retention splints. Indications and contraindications of Clear Aligner Therapy. Aligners Vs Fixed Appliance. Difference between In-house aligners and dealing with companies. Gathering records and data – From scanning to designing. The workflow of in-house clear aligners.
Biomechanics of Clear Aligners Understanding tooth movement with clear aligners The biomechanical limitations of Clear aligners and how to Overcome. Choosing and designing attachments - types and function. When to place attachments? Predictability and introduction to designing.
Clear Aligners Designing on software – including a Hands-on cases with different malocclusions. Aligners Softwares and how to choose the software. Principles of in-house aligners designing and how to improve predictability of difficult tooth movements during the designing stage. Attachment Protocol for different tooth movements. Software Planning Protocol. How to Clean non-ideal scans with MeshMixer software (+ demo) Staging protocols for different malocclusions.
The laboratory Part of in-house aligners. 3D printing and different types of printers. Material properties of Clear Aligners Sheets. VFR vs PFR. Thermoforming and manufacturing of in-house aligners, a step by step workflow. Trimming and Polishing aligners.
The Clinical part of in-house aligners. How to deliver your first aligner. How to place the attachments clinically. How to do Inter-Proximal reduction (IPR) in Clear aligners cases with tips and tricks for accurate IPR. Troubleshooting with aligners. What to do when things go wrong? Refinement. The use of Pliers in Clear aligners. Finishing and Retention.
Dr Kerolos AlHakeem is a distinguished orthodontist and lecturer at the University for Digital Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry (DTMD) in Luxembourg. He earned his Master of Science in Orthodontics with distinction from the University of Dundee in Scotland, UK, in 2019, and subsequently attained the prestigious Membership in Orthodontics (MOrth) from both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 2021. An expert in Digital Orthodontics, particularly Clear Aligners and cleft lip and palate treatment, Dr AlHakeem serves on the Clinical Advisory Council for the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics (JCO) and is an international credential volunteer with Operation Smile. He has had the honour of collaborating with leading orthodontists in the UK, including Prof. Grant McIntyre, Prof. Peter Mossey, and Prof. David R. Bearn, enhancing his knowledge and expertise in complex orthodontic treatments. With over five years of experience as a lecturer and clinical instructor in a MOrth training programme in Egypt, Dr AlHakeem has also been an invited speaker at numerous national and international orthodontic conferences. His speaking engagements include the Simply Ortho Annual International Meeting in Dubai, the IDEX International Conference in Egypt, and the Aligners Evidence and Practice Meeting in Egypt. Dr AlHakeem is the founder of the acclaimed course “Mastering In-House Clear Aligners: From Design to Delivery,” which he has successfully conducted across several countries, including Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Dubai, Romania, Iraq, and India. His commitment to advancing orthodontic education and his expertise in digital orthodontics make him a respected figure in the field.
