With the growing popularity of Invisalign, many people are shopping around searching not only for the best price that they can find, but also the best doctor. Unfortunately, a lot of people are under the incorrect assumption that once the doctor takes the impression of the teeth and sends it off to the Invisalign lab, the lab will work it's magic and automatically make the correct number of aligners with the just the right twists and turns to straighten their teeth to perfection. However, this is not the case, Invisalign only does what the doctor tells it to do.
Invisalign Aligners can be offered by both Invisalign dentists and orthodontists. Invisalign allows either group to be certified. However, many people are unaware of the difference between the two.
General Dentists are providers who have a 4-year degree in dentistry. Some call themselves "cosmetic" dentists, implying that they focus on the esthetic appearance of people's teeth while also addressing dental health. Some cosmetic dentists may also have additional training or be a member of a cosmetic dentist association and this information may be provided in their offices or on their website, however, this is not always the case and should not be assumed. Being an Invisalign dentist means that they have completed an Invisalign training program.
Orthodontists have the same 4-year dental training as general dentists, plus have studied for an additional 2-3 years to specialize in orthodontics. By limiting our practice only to orthodontics, we become very proficient at moving teeth and solving difficult problems that arise during treatment.
When choosing Invisalign, make sure you are comfortable with your doctor's experience at moving teeth. Take into consideration the complexity of your treatment when deciding which doctor to choose. Problems that start out as very minor issues, often are more involved than they appear. If you have teeth that are twisted, crowded, spaced or you have bite issues, you will probably want to choose an orthodontist experienced in tooth movement to obtain maximum results.
