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Why General Practitioners Should Be Doing Ortho

How many patients with crooked teeth do you have in your dental practice? That may seem like a strange question, but think about it for a minute. How many of your adult patients have mal-positioned teeth and aren’t thrilled about their smiles? If you’re like most dentists, there are a significant number of patients in your practice that fit into this category and are currently doing nothing about it!  You know the story; they do nothing because they don’t want to wear metal braces for years and they aren’t interested in an expensive and potentially aggressive set of veneers. 

Some dentists have tried to solve this common dilemma by offering orthodontic treatment with clear aligners to the patients in their practices. However, the majority of dentists that offer this treatment have been frustrated by aligners and don’t feel like they’ve found a great solution for their patients. Common frustrations with aligner therapy include: lack of control, high cost, longer than expected treatment times, poor patient compliance and proficiency requirements. 

There is an orthodontic option that is replacing clear aligners as the go-to orthodontic solution for general dentists.  It’s called Short Term Ortho and it is remarkably straightforward.  Short Term Ortho (STO) utilizes clear brackets and tooth colored wires to give patients the smiles they want in an average treatment time of just 6 months. The goals of treatment are exactly the same as treatment with clear aligners, but the cases can be finished much faster and with much more control, simply because brackets move teeth more efficiently and more predictably than aligners. 

The two biggest obstacles for adults who are considering orthodontics are: wearing metal braces, and lengthy treatment times. Treatment with clear aligners overcomes the first of these two obstacles, but tooth movement with aligners is relatively slow. STO is an extremely attractive option for patients and dentists because it overcomes both barriers. Tooth colored brackets and wires are inconspicuous and 6 months is a very reasonable treatment time. Furthermore, profitability is maximized because the lab fees are low (1/3 the cost of most aligner cases) and chair time is minimal (most of the procedure can be delegated). Typical case fees for STO cases range from $3000-$5000 so they are similar to traditional orthodontic cases. So, the potential for profitability is great because of the short treatment times. 

At this point, you’re probably wondering how these cases can be treated in an average time of 6 months.  The answer is simple: patient focused treatment goals. Most of the tooth movement that is needed to provide our patients with great smiles can be accomplished very easily in an average of 6 months using brackets and wires. With low force Nickel-Titanium wires, we can comfortably and predictably create a symmetrical and esthetically pleasing smile.  What we, as dentists, aren’t attempting to do with STO is completely revamp the occlusion. The primary objective is to solve the patients’ chief cosmetic complaints, and correct the aspects of tooth position that detract from the esthetic appearance of the smile.

The beauty of STO is that it is systemized and easy to learn. Once a patient accepts treatment, their impressions and case script are submitted (Six Month Smiles-Rochester, NY).  Bracket specialists position the brackets in the precise locations on the patient’s models.  A set of custom bonding trays is then created. The trays are included in the Patient Tray Kit which is returned to the office. The Patient Tray Kit contains all of the items that are needed to treat that particular patient, including the tooth colored wires, orthodontic ties, bonding agents etc. The Six Month Smiles bonding trays make placement of the brackets as easy as seating a set of bleaching trays. After the adhesive is cured, the trays are peeled off and the brackets remain on the teeth in the ideal positions.  Most of the bonding process can be delegated to dental auxiliaries.  The patient is then seen for an adjustment appointment every 4 weeks. At these appointments, the teeth are evaluated and any needed changes are made.  These changes could include conservative interproximal reduction, refreshing of the orthodontic ties or placement of slightly larger archwires.  Most STO cases involve a simple “small, medium, large” 3-wire treatment sequence.  Treatment is complete when the patient and the treating dentist decide together that the initial goals have been accomplished.  Doctor time can be absolutely minimal, which adds to the attractiveness of the procedure. 

In short, STO takes the complexity out of orthodontics for general dentists. General dentists enjoy safe, streamlined and systematic procedures and STO meets all of these criteria. It is growing like wildfire around the world because it is easy to learn and easy to implement.  When we as dentists discuss options with our adult patients, traditional orthodontic treatment should always be considered.  However, when adult patients refuse traditional treatment, STO provides patients (and dentists) with a fantastic and rewarding alternative option. 

Dr. Ryan Swain is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Dentistry. He practices in Rochester, NY and focuses on Short Term Ortho and other conservative cosmetic dental procedures. He is president and chief clinical instructor for Six Month Smiles.  Dr. Swain is a pioneer in the field of Short Term Ortho and constantly on the forefront of GP orthodontics. He has trained dentists internationally and prides himself on de-mystifying orthodontics for GPs. Dr. Swain can be reached at Drswain@thedentistsnetwork.net

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