Will Invisalign affect the future of ortho?

[localmotion2189]

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Hi guys, I was just wondering how you feel clear aligners such as Invisalign might affect business for orthos in the future? Do you think orthodontists will always have a steady supply of patients to treat despite (perhaps) improvements in products such as Invisalign? If general dentists may be able to someday treat even complex cases (and not refer them), do you think businesses for orthodontists may suffer in the future? I know no one has a crystal ball in here but I was just wondering what your thoughts were on this. As always, thanks for your input guys

 

[gryffindor]

No.

 

[dans105]

Nah. Everybody gets braces these days it seems like, even later in life, and I don't expect that will change anytime soon. Everybody wants straight teeth.

 

[Glimmer1991]

From my experience shadowing, it seemed to me like a LOT of it was becoming computerized. It seems to me like it is getting easier and easier to do without the large amounts of extra schooling--I think GPs may start to do more. The orthodontist I shadowed used Damon braces and the company sent him a computerized 3D model of what the finished product would look like--all he had to do was make minor tweaks to the 3D model and they then sent him everything he needed. He didn't even have to put on the brackets! I'm not an expert, though.

 

[Msmouth]

Invisalign has been around for 15+ years.....I don't think it has done any damage to ortho but what it has done is allowed more GPs to provide orthodontics for adults that would have otherwise not done traditional braces.

 

[dantemac]

Most dentists I talk to say no. Ortho is a great specialty because it requires less referrals - parents just know to take their kids to an orthodontist when the dentist says it is time or they think it is time. It's not like gum surgery or a root canal where the dentist sends you there.

Same principle applies, they would probably head there for invisalign too

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

For what it's worth, I just got Invisalign put on a few days ago by a general dentist who was referred to me by my GD. He isn't able to charge as much as an ortho, but he was pretty confident that he could provide a similar result. Not sure what that would mean for the future, but I thought I'd share.

 

[yappy]

Does invisalign do "comprehensive" ortho? I thought it was just for simple teeth straightening?

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

When I went for my initial consultation, it seemed like Invisalign only worked well for minor issues. If my issues were worse, I'd imagine I would have no choice but to do traditional braces.

 

[hesawyer]

I work in an office that is the #1 invisalign provider in Alabama. We do lots of complicated cases that fix cross bites, open bites, crowding and more. We dont even use impression material anymore. We have a 3-D scanner (iTero) then our office manager, not even the orthodontist, puts in the specifics and sends it off to invisalign. We approve the treatment and they send us a box. We have seen a huge decline in people getting braces that opt for invisalign instead. We actually just did one of the first cases of Ph1 treatment using invisalign to make room for future permanent teeth. It's where technology is going in ortho..it works as long as the patient is compliant