Friday, February 28, 2014

Toronto Invisalign ClinCheck Pro with 3-D Control

Invisalign in Toronto is often viewed as a commodity like a TV or piece of clothing.  The truth is that Invisalign is a technique used to help a doctor achieve straight teeth.  In other words, the way the doctor uses the Invisalign is going to have an impact on your treatment results.  For example, buying Kevin Durant's basketball shoes will not make most people play like Kevin Durant.  Just like the shoes help Durant produce his results on the court, Invisalign helps doctors produce beautiful smiles.

Align Technology recently launched ClinCheck Pro with 3-D Control for doctors to perform their treatment modifications.  A common misconception is that impressions/scans are sent to Invisalign and Invisalign does the treatment plan.  Doctors are responsible for the tooth movements and to direct the technician on how they feel the teeth need to be moved.  This new program allows the doctor to actually move the tooth to the position they wish, so that the technician can visualize what the doctor is looking for.

The doctor can choose to ask the technician for movements, or turn on 3D controls.  This will allow control of the teeth in intrusion, extrusion, buccal, lingual, rotation, tip, width of the arch, location of attachments/cutouts, and designating the amount and location of IPR.  The software then allows the doctor to see the original ClinCheck and then the modifications performed.

Screen shot of CC Pro3D

Keep in mind that a doctor can still move a tooth anywhere on a computer, but this may not happen in the mouth, so doctors must still have the experience to understand how aligners move the teeth.  It is a convenient tool for doctors to detail movements and provide over-correction of specific teeth.  It is likely going to increase the gap between experienced and inexperienced doctors, since those with more experience know where they need to move the teeth in the simulation to make it work in reality.  With this new software available, it should become more and more clear to doctors, as well as the public that Invisalign is a technique, rather than a product.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Invisalign G5 Features for Deep Bite Correction Described by Toronto Invisalign Specialist

On February 21, 2014, Align Technology announced the latest generation of Invisalign features to help in deep bite correction.  Remember that these are tools that will help the clinician properly plan your treatment.  Your results will still differ depending on the experience of your doctor.  Here is a summary provided by your Toronto Invisalign Expert.  Dubbed as G5, features include:



Pressure areas on aligners- Redirect the intrusive force through the long axis of anterior teeth.  This is important as teeth that need to be intruded have to be done so through the long axis.  For clinicians, this will show up as a circular module on the ClinCheck summary sheet.




Deep Bite Attachment on the first premolar- Anchorage for anterior intrusion; maybe be activated to extrude premolars.  Previously, horizontal attachments were used to provide anchorage.  The new attachments may also help extrude premolars in cases where there is a low mandibular plane angle.


Precision Bite Ramps on aligners- Disocclude the posterior teeth to prevent intrusion on posterior teeth and to intrude anteriors.  Previously, doctors estimated the position of the incisors and asked for "virtual bite turbos".  Now these ramps are incorporated into the aligners and move in concert with intrusion.  For clinicians, this will show up as a triangle on the lingual surfaces of the incisors on the treatment summary sheet.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Arkansas Orthodontist Dr. Ben Burris and Toronto Invisalign Specialist Dr. Tam

Even on weeks off, Dr. Tam, your Stouffville braces orthodontist is working hard to help improve the orthodontic experience of his patients at MCO Orthodontics.  Recently, he was down in Playa del Carmen, Mexico to meet with Kyle Ray, a leadership coach, having attended 21st Century Extraordinary Leadership.  Kyle is a master of mental imagery as a factor of future success and one of the top high stakes poker players in the world.

Dr. Ben Burris, Dr. Jason Tam, Mr. Matt Wilkins
Later, he met with Dr. Ben Burris, owner of Arkansas Braces and Braces by Burris, and his CEO Matt Wilkins.  Dr. Burris has an impressive resume, having started the largest pro-bono orthodontic charity in Smiles For A Lifetime, owner of an orthodontic magazine/study club, the Progressive Orthodontist, a  prominent patient advocate with Orthodontists for Access, and all while running the largest individual orthodontic practice in North America.  They had many discussions about the future of orthodontics and the management of orthodontic offices.