In the early 2000s, Invisalign revolutionized orthodontic care. As the first clear aligner treatment to break into the mainstream market, Invisalign has always offered patients a comfortable and convenient way to eliminate alignment issues and achieve a great smile.
Prior to Invisalign, orthodontists almost exclusively used conventional braces to treat alignment issues. Although braces are an excellent treatment solution for mild-to-severe alignment problems, Invisalign offers a few benefits that braces can’t.
One major advantage is that, unlike braces, Invisalign does not alter the patient’s appearance. Invisalign treatments use clear removable aligners that are custom-made to fit each patient’s unique dentition. While the brackets and wires of traditional braces can significantly alter one’s appearance, Invisalign aligners are barely noticeable to others.
In addition, Invisalign aligners can be removed at any time, day or night. It is important that Invisalign patients wear their aligners for at least 20-22 hours a day, but the aligners can be removed for brushing, flossing, eating, drinking, and physical activity. Because the aligners are so easy to take out and replace, Invisalign patients benefit from:
- Complete dietary freedom during treatment
- Easy oral care
- Comfortable exercise
Ever since Invisalign hit the market, millions of patients have experienced these benefits firsthand after starting treatment. Today, Invisalign is still the largest producer of clear aligners in the world, beating out competitors like SmileDirectClub or Byte.
Invisalign is so popular that even some dentists are excited to offer it, which raises the question: “Can dentists do Invisalign?”
If you’re asking yourself the same question, keep reading to learn the answer.
So, Can Dentists Do Invisalign?
The quick answer to the question, “can dentists do Invisalign?” is yes. General dentists can become Invisalign providers as long as they take a basic course from Invisalign. However, compared to an orthodontist’s specialized training—over seven years in total—dentists are significantly limited in what they can accomplish with Invisalign.
General dentistry provides patients with essential oral care. For example, a general dentist can clean your teeth and gums, diagnose health problems, and treat basic tooth and gum issues. However, Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment.
As a field, orthodontics is focused on eliminating tooth alignment problems to give their patients perfectly straight smiles. Straight smiles are not only conventionally attractive, but they also function better than misaligned smiles and offer a number of health benefits.
Of course, like any other specialty, orthodontics is an extremely complicated field. Professional orthodontists like BHO’s own Dr. Monica Madan undergo years of extra study. General dentistry does not have the same kind of extensive education requirements. Only the top one or two graduating dental students are offered spots in orthodontic residencies each year. A residency adds three years of training after the standard four years of undergraduate dental school.
Although Invisalign does offer dentists a basic overview of how to use their system, the training revolves around how to use Invisalign: NOT how to straighten teeth. In other words, a dentist can perform basic Invisalign duties, including:
- Sending patient impressions and scans
- Using Invisalign technology to create patient plans and make minor modifications
- Perform patient check-ups
Because they have not received the training necessary to align teeth, however, a dentist’s abilities do not go beyond the basics with Invisalign.
Advantages of Visiting an Orthodontist for Invisalign Treatment
As we have already mentioned, orthodontists undergo years of extra study to learn how to treat misaligned teeth. Today, Invisalign is just another one of the many tools orthodontists use to treat alignment problems.
Years of experience and on-the-job training gives orthodontists the specialized expertise that allows them to use Invisalign—one tool among many—to treat complicated issues. Here at Beverly Hills Orthodontics, founder Dr. Monica Madan and the BHO team use Invisalign to correct problems like:
- Severe crowding
- Substantial spacing
- Open bite
- Deep bite
- Crossbite
- Overbite/overjet
- Underbite
Unlike general dentists, orthodontists like Dr. Madan have the specialized education and training necessary to use Invisalign in advanced capacities. Not only do orthodontists treat more complicated cases than dentists, but they also have been trained to craft sophisticated treatment plans to match a patient’s needs and preferences. Invisalign treatments from BHO can include:
- Accelerated orthodontic measures to reduce treatment time
- Dental monitoring smartphone apps for real-time updates on patient progress
- Supplemental procedures to better correct severe problems
If you want the best results from Invisalign, an orthodontist is the right provider for you.
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Interested in Invisalign Treatment? Schedule an Appointment at Beverly Hills Orthodontics Today!
For top-of-the-line Invisalign treatment, you should visit a professional orthodontist. While dentists can do Invisalign, their services are very limited compared to an orthodontist’s. Dentists are simply Invisalign providers, meaning that they can perform scans, order trays, and perform periodic check-ups. However, they do not have the expertise required to identify moderate-to-severe alignment problems or to strategize treatment for them.
As a top 1% Sapphire Provider with a premier orthodontic practice on the West Coast, Dr. Madan and the Beverly Hills Orthodontics team have been creating Invisalign plans for over 10 years. Choosing BHO instead of a general dentist for Invisalign treatment allows you to benefit from years of specialized education and experience that only an orthodontist can provide. You’ll also receive higher quality care, broader treatment possibilities, and a keen eye for any changes in your treatment progress. Contact one of BHO’s locations in Beverly Hills, Studio City, Alhambra, or Downtown LA to learn if Invisalign is right for you!
NOTE: All blog content is intended to supplement—NOT REPLACE—the expertise of a healthcare professional and should not be construed in any way as medical advice. Consult a professional orthodontist directly, like the ones at BHO, to assess your individual needs and advise the best course of treatment.