Transcript The Five Big Invisalign Questions:

Invisalign Update
Staff Meeting, August 10, 2005
Purpose
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Have it on our minds
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“Invisalign goggles”
Be able to answer questions
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“5 big questions”
Disclaimer
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We are not an orthodontic office
We are not the terminal point for any recognized
dental specialty, except for restorative and cosmetic
dentistry.
 We do not specialize in “dentofacial orthopedics.”
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Format:
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State of things
FAQ’s
Dialogues
Consult form/protocol
State of Invisalign…
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It’s growing
Less than 8% of general dentists are currently offering it
Certification courses are offered all over the country.
More general dentists are using it than orthodontists
Great to be an early adopter (bleaching example)
It’s expensive
Web site is great
Great marketing package
Continuing ed courses are great
It is much more carefully monitored than before
It is still just a lab – they do what you tell them to do
Where we’re at with Invisalign:
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Currently the top
referring office in the
Utah Idaho region!
We are early adopters
Patients are very
interested
It is taking a lot of afterhours work
Clincheck works well
Where we’re at with Invisalign:
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9+ patients currently in treatment.
1: My wife
 1: Referred by David Gallup
 3: Have an office staff connection
 2: Referred by the Invisalign web site
 6 were already patients
 3 Came into the practice because of Invisalign
 None would have undergone tx with an orthodontist.
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Some Invisalign FAQ’s:
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Is Invisalign profitable?
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Potentially, but not automatically.
Fee must be high enough
 Tx must be highly systematized
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Some Invisalign FAQ’s:
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Who are we treating?
Adults. Second molars still need to be in place.
 Pts who wouldn’t go to the orthodontist anyway
 We still refer to the orthodontist.
 We need to follow up on consults.
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What is the timeline of treatment?
Some Invisalign FAQ’s:
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What about retention?
“Only till I’m dead…”
 Common protocol
 Thinking has changed through the years
 Teeth are going to shift with age, just like other parts
of your body.
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What is the average length of tx?
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11 months.
Some Invisalign FAQ’s:
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What does Invisalign do well?
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Everything mapped out beforehand with expert guidance
What doesn’t it do well?
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Cost
Extrusion
Posterior cross bites
Changing AP relationship
Distalization
Rotation past a certain point
The Five Big Invisalign
Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is Invisalign? How does it work?
Is it really effective?
How much does it cost?
How long will treatment take?
Will it work for me?
What is Invisalign? How does it
work?
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Invisible, removable, comfortable way to
straighten your teeth without braces
Uses a series of clear, removable “aligners” to
straighten teeth without metal wires or brackets
Patients wear them for about two weeks – 24 hrs
a day, except when eating, brushing or flossing
Patients visit the dentist about once every 6
weeks
Is it really effective?
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Proven effective in both clinical research and on
thousands of patients in private practices
worldwide
Advanced 3-D computer imaging technology
lets you see how the teeth will move before the
aligners are made or treatment begins
Over 175,000 patients are currently in treatment
– more every day!
How much does it cost?
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Comparable to traditional braces
Depends on complexity of your case and length
of treatment
Invisalign is covered by orthodontic insurance –
similar to traditional orthodontics
Affordable monthly payment plans available
How long will treatment take?
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Approximately the same as traditional braces –
average treatment is about a year
Depends on the complexity of your case
The doctor can give specifics after the
consultation
Will it work for me?
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“Let’s schedule an evaluation for the doctor to
determine if you’re a candidate for Invisalign
treatment”
Invisalign works for a broad range of patients
(crowding, spacing, open bites, crossbites, ortho
relapse, etc)
Over 175,000 have been treated worldwide
Second molar eruption is necessary