There are some new developments in the clear aligner world of orthodontics that I want to let you all know about.
As you may know, teeth can be straightened by using clear aligners instead of metal wires and braces.
One of the main companies that produce these aligners is called Align Technologies. You may have heard of their system, called Invisalign. They have just announced a new policy.
Align now says that they will no longer work with a dentist (even if he is Certified in the Invisalign System, as I am) if he does not do a certain minimum number of cases a year with them.
Wow! Imagine if the manufacturer of a pain-killing drug told doctors that unless they wrote a certain minimum number of prescriptions a year, they would not allow him to prescribe their drug. Do you think there would be a danger that some doctors would decide to write a prescription for that drug so they could fill their quota?
What if your dentist did implants and one of the big implant companies said that unless he bought a certain minimum number of their implants to insert in his patients' jaws every year, they would not sell him the implants? Do you think that there would be a danger that a dentist might choose that brand of implant, even if it might not be the very best one for that patient, so he could fill his quota?
This is bad policy, although it might be good business for the company making the product.
Doctors must choose the best technique and products and not be pressured by manufacturers to choose based on a quota.
OK. Thankfully, Align is not the only manufacturer of clear aligners and aligner systems. There are several others.
I am also Certified in the ClearCorrect system of clear aligner orthodontics and in fact, I have begun to believe, over the last few months - even before Align announced this new policy - that it is actually a better system in several ways that are good for my patients.
So the heck with Invisalign.
If you have questions about this, or about getting your teeth straightened the easy way with clear aligners, please just call me at 845-297-6206 or send e-mail to DrSteveRoss@aol.com.
And you can check out my web site at DrSteveRoss.com.
