Invisalign, as many people know by now, is a clear plastic tooth alignment system put forward as an alternative to metal braces. This method has become widely used and accepted, and is not showing signs of slowing down. Its popularity undoubtedly stems from that fact that wearing a removable set of plastic aligners that is not particularly noticeable to others strikes most people as being a lot better than spending a couple of years with a “metal mouth.”
From a technical standpoint it’s really computer imaging and design logic procedures that make the system tick. An impression is taken of the patient’s teeth and supplemented with photos and x-rays. This information is sent to Align Technology, the manufacturer of the product, and the through a scanning process a three dimensional computer model of the teeth are created. Each tooth in the model can be dealt with individually, and according to the orthodontist’s specifications as to the final positioning of each, an invisalign dental tray is designed to begin the process of shifting the teeth in the desired direction. On the orthodontist’s approval, the tray is sent out and the patient begins wearing it at all times except when they eat or on other special occasions. As the treatment continues new trays are produced to continue the tooth movement. For a period of time after the conclusion of the treatment, a retainer is worn for a period of time to maintain the new alignment.
As of 2008, over 730 thousand patients have used or are using the system. This is a 75% increase in usage since 2003. According to Align Technology, there are close the 36 thousand U.S. practitioners (orthodontists and other medical or dental professionals) trained in Invisalign treatment, and just over 48 thousand worldwide.
How effective is Invisalign for correcting orthodontic problems? The vast majority of crooked teeth can be straightened with the procedure, and Invisalign statistics show that over 80 percent of malocclusions (problem bites) can be corrected by the alignment system. A combination of braces used behind the teeth and Invisalign can correct the remaining 20 percent.
Since Align Technology is done with its legal troubles, it is free to focus its energies and enjoy its status as the undisputed leader of invisible orthodontic treatment. The company was involved in a legal battle with the manufacturer of a similar product called Orthoclear between 2005 and 2006. This was a case of a defector – one of Invisalign’s original founders, named Zia Christi was the originator of Orthoclear, and who set up shop in Pakistan manufacturing the Orthoclear aligners. Align alleged that Christi and Orthoclear had infringed patents that were the exclusive property of the company and of Invisalign technology. The dispute was settled in September of 2006 – with Orthoclear ceasing its operations and handing over all intellectual property.
How does the system compare with traditional braces cost wise? It’s usually in the same general range but a bit more expensive. It’s hard to give exact cost comparisons, because treatment costs are set by orthodontists and not by the company, but the price range for Invisalign is from $2000 to $8000, with $5000 to $7000 being common. Traditional braces are usually between $5000 and $6000, with an upper limit of around $7500, but the latter is not common. So it’s safe to say that Invisalign costs about $1000 more than traditional braces as a rough estimate.
Invisalign is truly a cutting edge technology. Align Technologies has done well as a company despite a few snags along the way, and its product is top in its class. As an alternative to the traditional metallic miseries many teenagers have to experience, Invisalign is welcomed by youth and adults alike, and it is likely that is will have the market cornered for some time to come.
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have performed invisalign procedure on many clients the aesthetic qualities are certainly much better than traditional braces.