The Power of Invisalign
The advent of virtually invisible aligners brought about a new age of orthodontics. Although traditional metal aligners are still useful, especially for cases Invisalign can’t handle, clear aligners are largely preferred for their convenience and appearance.
Choosing the right Invisalign provider can make a significant difference in your treatment. A warm personality and agreement on treatment methods is one thing, but ensuring your Invisalign dentist is qualified to provide superior treatment for you is important.
We’ve put together a list of certifications that can make an Invisalign provider stand out. Looking for these qualifications in your potential Invisalign providers can help figure out who will be the best dentist for you.
1. An Invisalign Certification
The first step for a dentist to be able to use Invisalign systems in their office is to become officially certified by Invisalign. That means they’ve gone through Invisalign training and can use Invisalign systems to provide treatment.
Only dentists who are officially certified can submit their patient records to Invisalign. This education course not only educates your dentist but their entire team, ensuring the members of their office can help you properly.
Officially certified Invisalign providers have access to Invisalign technology. These technologies include iTero digital scanners and 3D printing technology that Invisalign uses to create their accurate clear aligners.
2. A Preferred Invisalign Provider
There are several tiers of Invisalign providers–these tiers are based on how many patients have been treated by that dentist. Preferred Invisalign providers like Dr. Maya Assi in Coral Springs, FL have demonstrated their experience through providing treatment.
There are different designations based on various levels of experience, and a preferred provider has shown their ability to successfully treat patients using Invisalign. Looking for these achievements can show you which dentists are more experienced with Invisalign.
3. A Member of Professional Organizations
Professional organizations can connect your Invisalign provider with others in their field and provide resources for additional education. Generalized organizations exist, such as the American Dental Association, as well as specialized, like the American Association of Orthodontics.
These organizations can help your dentist connect with resources they wouldn’t have access to otherwise. The ADA, for example, provides its members with continuing education programs and peer-reviewed research to stay up to date with.
Most dentists list the organizations they’re a part of on their website so you can easily find them. Some dentists are only part of a couple of organizations, but it’s not always the quantity of the organizations that matter most.
Many professional organizations also require certain levels of continuing education to remain a member, so your dentist is holding themself to a higher standard by choosing to join one of these organizations.
4. Pursues Continuing Education
Continuing education is required for dentists to remain in practice. Not only that, but it helps dentists to keep up to date on the latest procedures and practices. A dentist who is open about the continuing education courses they seek shows they can be trusted.
Many dentists are proud to showcase their continuing education pursuits on their website. Oftentimes, a dentist will take more continuing education courses than required in order to learn better treatment methods for their patients.
Going above and beyond is not required, but can demonstrate a dedication to their practice. The more your dentist learns, the more likely they are to adopt revolutionary technologies that make treatment easier for you.
5. Community Involvement
As with any resume, community involvement and extracurricular activities can help you determine if your dentist is a good fit for you. Dr. Steven Haywood in Shrewsbury, PA is a good example of a dentist who supports many programs in his community.
Being involved in community affairs and providing support for those around them means a dentist is committed to not only caring for your teeth but for you as a person. Though skill with dentistry is vital for safe procedures, personal touch to dental care doesn’t hurt.
Choosing the Right Dentist
When choosing the dentist who will straighten your smile with Invisalign, it’s important to consider their qualifications and character. Choosing a dentist is like hiring an employee for your business–the business that helps you care for your health.
Looking at an Invisalign provider’s certifications can show you not only their dental education but their character. Education and demonstrated success mean your procedure will be safe but your dentist needs to be a good fit personality-wise, too.
In the end, meeting your dentist face-to-face for a consultation is the only way to be entirely certain. But choosing which dentists to see can be aided immensely with the help of some research.