Aesthetics and control: top priorities for aligner treatment
Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 21st January 2021
Dentist James Taylor explains why he now chooses SureSmile® when a case requires clear aligners.
Q. How do you think patients’ perceptions of their teeth and attitudes to orthodontics have changed since you qualified in 1996?
A. Patients seem to be much more aware of their teeth than they were when I first started out. People weren’t so worried about the appearance of their teeth back then and most people were apprehensive about having braces.
This increase in personal awareness is due in large part to the advent of social media and the ubiquity of images of Hollywood smiles and perfectly straight teeth. Young people are much more open to having work done on their smiles and it’s almost become a rite of passage for youngsters to have some sort of teeth straightening work.
In fact, across all age groups I’ve seen demand rise, as people see what can be achieved. Some feel they missed out on the smile they’d always wanted and are now willing to pay for treatment to achieve it. Dentistry has responded to this demand and there are now a number of options that are easily accessible.
Q. Your website talks about the ‘Smile Journey’ that patients will embark upon with you. What does this involve?
A. We call it a Smile Journey because it is a sort of evolution, as we work with the patient to find out what they really want from their smile.
We start with an online consultation in which we ask them to tell us what they would like to achieve. We are trying to discover what the patient has always wanted to change about their smile and what worries them. This approach enables us to find out what result they want to achieve, without narrowing the conversation down to any particular treatment.
We then start sounding them out about different types of treatments and to see if any resonate with them. If they like the sound of what we’re suggesting, we then move to the next stage.
At the face-to-face consultation we take scans and photographs and talk more about the opportunities available. As part of the process, we create realistic 3D digital mock-ups with our CAD/CAM software, so the patient knows exactly what the end result will be. This also forms part of the consent process, so they know exactly what they are committing to.
A treatment plan can be multi-disciplinary – to improve the shape of teeth, or the proportion of a tooth in respect to surrounding dentition, and could include composite bonding, cosmetic bonding and whitening.
Q. You’ve been using Dentsply Sirona’s SureSmile® aligner system for around 10 months. Can you tell us why you particularly like this system?
A. The main reason is control. SureSmile gives me the control I need to predictably and safely move the teeth to the desired position.
The software allows me to mesh together the surface scans of the teeth and the X-ray from a low-dose CBCT scan, so that I can see not only the position of the teeth in the mouth, but also the roots and bone. I can therefore predictably move the teeth through the bone or tip a tooth, rather than moving it, if that’s more appropriate. This integration makes the treatment more effective and less prone to issues further down the line.
Every case with SureSmile is a bespoke case. The system gives me the tools to add scalloped edges or extend over the gingival margin or make other adjustments to suit each case individually and I love this flexibility.
With SureSmile I also have the option of reassessing the case midway through the treatment, which means I can make any necessary modifications to the remaining aligners. This is much more efficient in terms of time and waste, and means I can move the teeth in the most effective way possible.
Q. And how does SureSmile score for patient experience?
A. My patients love the aligners. The aligner plastic works really well, it’s comfortable and never so tight that it hurts, even in the first couple of days. They love how discreet the aligners are and that it’s almost impossible to tell they are wearing them.
They also appreciate the confidence I have in the system and really appreciate that I can show them digital designs and the planned end result, so we agree the pathway before treatment starts. Our Smile Journey keeps them informed and fully compliant throughout the treatment and I can honestly say that I have a lot of patients using SureSmile aligners and we are getting really excellent results.
SureSmile makes my life easier, so in turn I can make my patients’ lives easier. It gives us both the control and aesthetics we want.
Q. So, it must be having a positive effect on your business?
A. We launched our new practice at the beginning of 2019 and orthodontics has always been part of our treatments. With SureSmile, we’ve continued to have amazing growth. My patients engage well with it and I can confidently discuss the results I’m achieving. My satisfied patients have spread the word, and we all know there’s no better source for new patients than personal recommendation, so it’s been great for business!
Profile
James Taylor BDS MFDS, is a Partner at a purpose-built dental practice in Leeds. ‘The Dentist’ helps patients of all ages, needs and backgrounds achieve confident smiles through a range of integrated, multi-disciplinary treatments.
Listen to more from James on The Probe Dental Podcast!
You can hear more about James’ use of SureSmile aligners in a webinar on 28th January 2021. Register for the free webinar at https://view6.workcast.net/register?cpak=6044295026978031
Find out more about Dentsply Sirona’s extensive range of orthodontic solutions please visit https://www.dentsplysirona.com/en-gb/explore/orthodontics/suresmile-aligner.html
You can visit the online Dentsply Sirona Academy for a wide range of education resources, video tutorials, courses and CPD webinars at dentsplysirona.com/ukeducation
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