The incorporation of providing virtual alignment simulation (“virtual straightening”) of patient’s teeth is a technique used by this office since February, 2007.  Eighteen months of experience later, no other orthodontist in North Alabama employs this technique routinely.  This technology takes advantage of CAD-CAM methods as well as ‘just-in-time” delivery of product in order to bring significant improvements to the care many of our patients receive.

These concepts are consistent with the mission statement of the practice.  For the first 10 months, no additional fees were levied to our new patients, as I looked at the claims of the vendor as being potentially suspect.  They claimed numerous advantages: That patients would visit the office fewer times in the course of their treatment, that the end results would likely be superior to current trends, that the average length of treatment would be reduced, and that the length of time the patient had to sit in our chairs would be reduced.

Each of the claims by the vendor, I can now say based on experience with the technique, are correct. If you work in dentistry/orthodontics or would just like to learn more about the Cadent ® OrthoCad iQ™ product, click here.

EXPLAIN?!

There are two ways to place braces for a patient who needs all of their braces placed at one time.  One approach is to place each bracket on each tooth individually directly on the patient’s teeth while they rest in the orthodontic chair with their mouth open.  The second approach is an indirect approach, in that the braces are placed on a plaster model of the patient’s teeth in the laboratory; create a vacuum-formed plastic tray to act as a carrier for the braces, then place all of the braces on all the teeth at one time when the patient is resting in the chair.

The technique I am employing is a variation on that second approach.  Instead of using a plaster model, a virtual model and virtual braces matching my prescription are used.  The advantage is that I, the orthodontist, can visualize the end result by witnessing the simulated finish (“straightening” of the patient’s teeth!) That added benefit is simply not available using plaster models to help in braces placement. This benefit is significant, because I can adjust the exact position of the braces to produce a more polished look, and I can adjust the treatment plan if it doesn’t produce the smile I want.  If a patient requests an alternative approach to what I have recommended, I can demonstrate the end result of their request, which may help in their decision-making.

WHAT THIS DOES NOT DO: While this treatment approach saves time, it does not cut treatment time significantly. For patients whose treatment is forecast to be completed in 18-24 months, today these patients are more likely to being completed toward the 18 months' end of the range, where before they were closer to being completed at 24 months, or longer.  (Prior to this technology, there has been a 10% probability that treatment would extend past forecast completion dates. This statistic is improving with the new braces placement approach.)

OUR RESULTS
             a.     Relatively shorter treatment times (as explained above)
             b.     Fewer patients experiencing treatment that lasts longer than initially
                               forecast
             c.     Better overall treatment results
             d.     Higher accuracy in initial bracket placement, which yields fewer
                           treatment appointments (fewer trips to the office) and fewer
                           long treatment appointments.
             e.     The physical act of placing the braces on the teeth takes less resting
                           time in the treatment chair (which is more comfortable)
             f.     Fee increases that are modest, resulting in no effective change in
                          ranking of fee ranges among other Huntsville orthodontists

Reading this far, you may have surmised this approach is designed for patients where placement of essentially all the braces at one time is reasonable or best. That is a correct assessment.  For some patients, the mechanical advantages offered by placement of braces in stages means this approach is not utilized for them. Nevertheless, the majority of our patients can take advantage of the concept of “beginning with the end in mind.”


Media coverage Fall 2008 on topic Virtual Simulation of Treatment
The Huntsville Times article, December, 2008
ABC-News local affiliate, Channel 31 October 2008(requires Windows Media Player)
AL.com web story August, 2008