By Dr. John White
Smiles by White
You could say that Apple’s smartphone keeps getting smarter and smarter with every new release. Since the introduction of the first generation of the iPhone, which originally was a touchscreen with calling features, to now being our lifeline to the Internet, the technology has grown by leaps and bounds. The same could be said about Invisalign clear aligners.
I started to move teeth with plastic more than 30 years ago, like we all did at that time, by hand. When Invisalign hit the market in 2000, the initial levels were only slightly better than working by hand. However, today, with all the advanced Invisalign tools, the technology to move an entire set of teeth with Invisalign is far beyond what we ever had with braces. With braces we had the same X-rays and diagnostic procedures, but we never had the opportunity to do a virtual setup.
Over the last two decades, the Invisalign manufacturer has been plowing its profits back into making a better product. It utilizes better plastic. It offers innovative software. And it has adjusted the types of attachments orthodontists can put on teeth to more precisely direct the movement and the forces necessary to achieve the desired results.
With 20 years of research, the world’s largest 3D printing operation and data from 6 million smiles, Invisalign is the most advanced clear aligner on the market.
Currently we are on generation six of Invisalign, and it keeps getting better and better. As a beta tester for Invisalign software, I am helping to shape the ever-evolving technology and am excited about new developments coming in the future.
