Invisalign recently interviewed Dr. Peter Ilori, principal orthodontist at Octagon Orthodontics, for their European provider Insights. The interview was for any practitioner Interested in starting to treat teenage patients with Invisalign? Dr. Ilori explains why his teenage patients are showing a preference for aligners rather than metal.
Dr. Peter Ilori is a Specialist in Orthodontics and Facial Aesthetics with 25-years of experience in dentistry. In 2001, he was awarded the MBA with distinction from Brunel University in Uxbridge. He is the founder/owner of Octagon Orthodontics with branches in London, High Wycombe, Denham and Beaconsfield. He is involved in the development of orthodontic, aesthetic and cosmetic enhancement protocols for clients of all ages.
Dr. Peter Ilori is a Platinum Elite Practitioner. He offers orthodontic specialist services using Invisalign, Invisalign Lite and Invisalign Teen.
How long have you been treating teenagers with Invisalign?
Since the day Invisalign Teen was launched.
What is according to your experience the benefit of Invisalign compared to treatment with traditional fixed braces?
The advantages of Invisalign can be seen from both a patient and clinical perspective.
My teenage patients report that it is truly invisible, easy to wear and is generally perceived to be more comfortable (less painful) than traditional fixed braces. Teenagers tend to cope better with the care instructions and there is less interference with their dietary habits. For patients who have confidence or social problems, the product has been very successful in reducing teasing and bullying in school and social environments. Parents find it easier and feel more confident to supervise their children's treatment thanks to the compliance indicators.
From a clinical point of view it is easy to start a case with the additional benefits of reduced clinical time and no emergencies. There is a high level of patient acceptance of this product so it sells itself. The Clincheck feature helps me plan, visualise and explain clearly what the end result is likely to be. I have received a lot of positive comments from parents and children who feel that choosing Invisalign makes them part of a new wave of cutting-edge technology in orthodontics. This serves as good PR for my practice.
Which Invisalign products do you use for the treatment of teenagers?
We mainly use Invisalign Teen but in a few cases we will use Invisalign Lite or even the adult version.
In March 2009, Align Technology launched Invisalign Teen with features that are specifically designed for teenagers (such as the compliance indicators, eruptions tabs and compensators and free replacement aligners). As a practitioner, which of these features do you appreciate the most?
The combination of features makes this product well supported and effective in tackling most malocclusions. The free replacement aligners give confidence to parents who might worry about additional costs.
As it is not always possible to predict the eruption path of the canines, 2nd premolars and 2nd molars, a doctor might need to change the final position or stage of these teeth. This change is not regarded a mid-course correction by Align Technology and will not be charged. How valuable is this to you?
This is very valuable because ectopic teeth are common and any practitioner will need to capture and align these teeth as they come through. Also, from a cost perspective patients would not be happy if additional charges were applied during the treatment.
According to your experience, what is the most crucial benefit for parents who are considering Invisalign for their children?
Most parents would do anything to prevent their children being unhappy about wearing braces. Traditional braces tend to trigger battles relating to eating sweets as well as the frequency of tooth brushing and regular visits to repair broken braces. All of these issues can be avoided by choosing Invisalign Teen. The reduced number of appointments results in a better attendance at school with less missed lessons. With Invisalign Teen, parents whose children are in boarding schools are still confident of achieving a good result despite the issues caused by distance.
What is the most crucial benefit for the teenagers?
The crucial benefit is that teenagers get their teeth straightened without compromising their self image, confidence or appearance.
How commercially interesting is it for you as an orthodontist to offer Invisalign to your teenage patients?
Selecting the right cases and completing and achieving treatment goals is rewarding. Invisalign Teen is profitable because we make savings on materials, chair side or clinical time and repairs.
What kind of marketing activities do you use when promoting Invisalign to your teenage patients?
We do a lot of internal marketing using posters and brochures and we get a lot of our referrers involved in sharing the benefits of the teen products.
Which role do you think Invisalign will play in your practice when it comes to teenage patients?
The most valuable and virulent driver is Invisalign Teen. This is because of its high acceptability within this age group.
What is your top tip to other Invisalign practitioners who are considering treating teenagers with Invisalign?
If you share the benefits and advantages of this treatment you can expect an increased uptake.
Find out more!
To read the interview on the invisalign website: Please click here To read more about the market research carried out on behalf of Align Technology: Please click here
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