Welcome fellow Invisalign Dentists and Colleagues,
I want to introduce you to an exciting way of giving your patients the opportunity to get the smile they want, with less discomfort and more self-assurance than traditional orthodontic treatments. Straighter teeth will offer your patients better health, greater self-confidence, and more respect from others. Invisalign treatments are extremely rewarding as you will see your patient’s attitudes and behaviors transformed through the smile you helped create.
(The following notes have been adapted from a presentation, “Invisialign Smiles with quality and caring” by Dr. David Eshom of San Diego, California. To find out more about Dr. Eshom and his Invisalign philosophy, find him on the web at www.eshomdds.com )
At the end of this training each individual will be able to:
Answer the Big 5 questions for each patient:
Demonstrate knowledge of everything required to implement Invisalign into their everyday practice beginning tomorrow.
OK, you’ve heard all the hype. Invisalign changes the alignment of your patients’ teeth. So what? Is that really a big deal? I mean, sure they’ll have straighter teeth and a more pleasing smile, but is the “vanity” of a nice smile really important for the majority of my patients?
Let’s explore reasons Invisalign can be more important than just a nice smile for most of your patients. In your groups read the information on the following pages and be prepared to report back to the entire class, from your own perspective:
The Links of Oral Health to Other Medical Issues
We all know that poor oral health can lead to Periodontal Disease. With Invisalign your patient’s teeth are straightened allowing them to more easily take care of their teeth. With straighter teeth, brushing and flossing are easier and more effective, reducing the incidence of periodontal disease.
It has been common knowledge in the dental community for over a decade that Gum Disease is linked to several other medical ailments. These include, but are not limited to, heart disease, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, and even memory.
Most of the evidence supporting a link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD) comes from epidemiological studies in the late 1980’s. These studies indicated that patients who had a history of myocardial infarction generally had worse oral health. Since then cross-sectional data indicated that patients with severe clinical attachment loss were at greater risk of myocardial infarction than subjects with a healthy periodontium.
Oral infection by periodontal pathogens initiates the formation of dental plaque. This leads to inflammation of periodontal tissues and periodontal pockets thus increasing sub gingival space, which is conducive to bacterial growth. Bacterial release of biologically active molecules may enter the systemic circulation. These products can trigger the host inflammatory response that is thought to contribute to the inflammatory processes leasing to atherosclerosis, the thickening and hardening of arteries produced by a build-up of plaque, the underlying cause of Cardiovascular disease.
What does the rest of the Staff need to know?
What does the Patient need to be told?
Respiratory Disease
Studies have indicated that poor oral health could lead to Respiratory Disease and Osteoporosis. According to one article, Periodontal Disease has been linked to an increased risk of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Pneumonia is defined as inflammation of the lungs resulting from an infection that is usually bacterial or viral. Nosocomial pneumonia, also called hospital-acquired pneumonia, represents about 15% of hospital-acquired infections. While it only occurs in about ½ of I % of hospitalizations, the mortality rate from this type of pneumonia is about 30%. This type of pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria in the environment. However, several lines of evidence indicate that people with poor oral health are at higher risk for Nosocomial pneumonia. We all know that a higher level of plaque, due to infrequent brushing, or poor oral health care, increases bacterial growth. Further, oral pathogens can be inhaled directly into the lungs. While the immunity mechanisms of the lungs usually prevent infection, if the immune system is suppressed or defective or if an overwhelming number of organisms are aspirated, respiratory disease can develop.
Another respiratory disease linked to poor oral health is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This disease remains one of the top fifteen causes of death world-wide. Epiderniological studies have revealed a link between periodontal disease and COPD. Patients with a mean attachment loss of at least 2.0 mm were more likely to have COPD than those with less than 2.0 mm. That being said, these results have been in only epidemiological studies; no prospective studies have investigated the link between these diseases.
While further study is needed, it seems clear that there may be a very real link between oral health and the risk of respiratory disease.
What does the rest of the Staff need to know?
What does the Patient need to be told?
Let’s explore some of the questions your patients could ask of you. In your groups read the information on the following pages and be prepared to report back to the entire class, from your own perspective:
So what is Invisalign?
The patient wears each aligner for about two weeks, moving to the next set, until the teeth are straight.
Does it work? Is it really effective?
Does Invisalign hurt?
There may be some mild soreness each time the patient starts a new aligner in the series. This is a normal sign that the aligners are working — sequentially moving his or her teeth to their final destination.
What does the rest of the staff need to know?
Why Should I Promote Invisalign?
What does the rest of the Staff need to know?
What does the Patient need to kto br told?
Let’s explore some of the questions your patients could ask of you. In your groups read the information on the following pages and be prepared to report back to the entire class, from your own perspective:
While different studies offer different conclusions, it is clear that straight teeth will help ensure better oral health, as they’re easier to clean and maintain.
Having straight teeth also improves the Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ). Aligning the teeth will allow for the proper freedom of movement for the mandible thus helping reduce possible spasms of the joint, pain or discomfort.
The ideal positioning of teeth prior to the placement of implants, bridges, and partials, will help ensure proper spacing, reducing potential future gum disease, maintaining the bone levels around existing teeth, and more.
Having straight teeth also helps reduce the chance of fracturing teeth through ordinary use with improper alignment.
What does the Patient need to be told?
What does the rest of the Staff need to know?
How long does treatment take with Invisalign?
What does the rest of the Staff need to know?
What does the Patient need to be told?
What does the rest of the Staff need to know?
What does the Patient need to be told?
Will Invisalign work for everyone? Invisalign will work for most people with a wide range of needs, including those whose teeth are too crowded, who have gaps between their teeth, an overbite, a deep bite, or whose teeth may have shifted since wearing braces. Invisalign is for adults and teens whose teeth, including second molars, are fully erupted.
In your table groups, determine: