Greater control and better results – the benefits of clear aligner therapy

Dr Jeremy Worth discusses how Invisalign has given him a new lease of life as a clinician. 

I graduated as an orthodontist in Ireland 23 years ago, initially working in hospital for the first five years of my career, and then gradually moving to private practice. At that time, I used to use fixed appliances for pretty much every treatment. When patients came back with contact points which had slipped, I used to adjust their study model and make an Essix retainer.

However, I could not deny that there was a growing appetite for clear aligner therapy. I just did not want to be left behind. I knew about the Invisalign system. But the cost of treatment was holding me back at the time. At the back of my mind I felt – as did many orthodontists – that I may have lost out on some patients if I had not at least offered the them the option of Invisalign treatment.

That was really what many of us were doing. We offered these treatments and when patients were not deemed suitable, they were told that aligners would not give them what they wanted. It felt easier to proceed with fixed appliances. We believed that was the way of keeping the footfall of our practice as high as possible, and fixed appliances were chosen by most patients anyway.

Truly exciting

Then in 2010, I joined my friend and fellow orthodontic specialist John Costello at the Bournemouth British Orthodontic Society Congress. Together we attended an Invisalign launch event where they were discussing product developments and all the changes they were introducing. It was an epiphany for me. I started educating myself, picking up new skills and pushing boundaries just as John had done. It was truly exciting.

Looking back, I started realising that we had been in a treatment rut, a status quo and in a routine. We certainly provided good results with fixed appliance. But with the Invisalign system, I started achieving better results and the experience was overwhelmingly positive. The treatment modality challenges me every day. It is really stimulating for me as a clinician, allowing me to develop my skills.

Where previously I had 95% of patients in fixed appliances, now roughly 50% are having Invisalign treatment. I’ve completed 500 cases to date. I still enjoy treating patients with fixed appliances. I use tip-edge which is very unusual for things like skeletal camouflaged cases and high anchorage demand cases.

But the Invisalign system really fits in because it allows greater control of all the different positions of the teeth. It is as flexible as possible and helping us to achieve exemplary results.

Benefits of the system

With the pandemic last year, Align Technology considerably accelerated the development of new digital tools. I felt privileged to be able to use the Invisalign Virtual Care tool, which came as a godsend as face-to-face contact with my patients was difficult. Yet it allowed me to track all of my Invisalign cases. The company offered the remote consultation solution at a time when it was just so needed, as one of the benefits of treating with the system, and it just made so much sense.

My therapist and nurses perform all the Itero digital scans and they are very good at explaining the benefits of Invisalign Virtual Care tool to patients. It helps us check that each patient’s aligners are fitting correctly and keep a close eye on their tracking.

We can catch issues early before a tooth gets out of control with the need for mid-course correction. We can take scans and compare the actual position of their teeth versus the predicted position, which gives an indication of their treatment progress.

Wonderful choices

Invisalign Virtual Care tool is also a great tool for patients who might not be super motivated and not as compliant as we would like them to be. I can liken it to training for a marathon. This is more measurable than if you run every day with a specific goal.

With Invisalign Virtual Care tool, they keep their own records and can see0 their own progress and it encourages them to continue towards their goal and better end results. A “well done” can go a long way to keeping them on track.

The Invisalign Outcome Simulator on the Itero digital scanner is also amazing as it helps patients visualise the end treatment before starting any treatment planning. It is the contrast between where we are now and what the future can offer. It introduces the idea of Invisalign treatment to patients and gives them all the information to make the right choice. Also it allows us to discuss all the pros and cons of the various treatment modalities.

There is really no going back for me. The Invisalign system has given me and my peers a new lease of life. It makes my work challenging and exciting. And my patients get a wonderful choice and better results.