Archive for the ‘Invisalign Braces’ Category
Now’s the Time for Invisalign
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but all around the country you can find some outrageous deals on Invisalign braces as the year comes to a close. That is because Align Technology Inc., the producer of the Invisalign system has set yearly quotas on all of their certified providers, effective immediately.
This controversial move has forced many providers to offer the clear braces at, or even below the dentist’s cost to meet their quotas by December. Aligntech holds the patent on the technology, and the providers have no other knock-offs to turn to, so the company has come under fire by major dental associations for this new requirement. The legality and ethics of such a move have been questioned, but it has been determined that Aligntech is acting within their rights.
The consequences of not meeting your quota are not severe, but highly inconvenient. The dentist needs to pay $3000 and go through another certification course, so most would rather just offer those last cases at a large discount in addition to loss leaders such as free exams, x-rays, and diagnostics. We are bound to be more prepared by this time next year, but if any youth or adults alike were ever contemplating braces, this would be a pretty good time.
According to the Journal of Dental Research, 75% of Americans are in need of orthodontic treatment, and of that 75%, only 1% actually receive it. Another interesting statistic is that in over half the cases that need orthodontics, Invisalign is the treatment of choice. So at the present, if you want to go with the invisible braces, Invisalign is your only choice.
Fortunately, it is a great system. Each participating dentist must go through certification training and then take five to ten continuing education courses per year. We work with a panel of orthodontic specialists to determine where each tooth is going to end up, then a series of non-plastic, biocompatible trays is designed and constructed by computers to systematically go from where the teeth are now, to the desired position. The result is that you have a more esthetic and comfortable method of straightening your teeth, it’s usually faster, and the nicest part is that you can take them out to eat and clean your teeth properly.
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, October 6th, 2009
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