A clear expansion

13 March 2014
Volume 29 · Issue 10

Align Technology has reached agreement with a further four dental schools to join its orthodontic training programme, bringing the number at which it teaches to seven. 

The Invisalign University Programme has been deemed an integral part of the course for post graduate dentists as they train to be orthodontists, which recognises that aligner treatments are now accepted as a mainstream orthodontic treatment.

Since its inception in 2013 the programme has been run at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, Kent; The Countess of Chester Hospital and the Dublin Dental Hospital. These early adopters realised the advantage to train their orthodontic students in aligner techniques before they qualify as Specialists to ensure graduates are au fait the latest techniques they are likely to be asked about in practice. The expanded programme is now also to be offered at the universities of Leeds, Cardiff, Newcastle and Sheffield.

When asked to comment on scope of the programme for their students the course leaders explained their reasons for adopting it as follows:

David Morris, consultant orthodontist and head of department at the Leeds Dental Institute, one of the largest regional institutions to participate in the programme stated: ”I was keen for Leeds to be involved with this innovative Invisalign teaching programme which is supported by Align technology. All our orthodontic postgraduate trainees will end up benefiting from having some actual hands-on clinical experience with this appliance system rather than relying on theoretical knowledge alone. This should make them better equipped to make the right decision for their future patients by realising Invisalign's potential as well as its limitations.  It is a useful addition to the trainee orthodontist's armamentarium and is likely to spawn new research ideas."

WhilstDavid Young, consultant orthodontist, Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup added that “Invisalign is one of the most recognised orthodontic appliance techniques utilised by specialists throughout the world. However UK Orthodontic Specialists have lagged behind in its use. The insight of the Align Group and University Training Units in the UK has been to formulate training programmes to allow UK post-graduate trainees access to in-house accredited training for Invisalign. This allows close supervision of trainees by Consultants as they explore this technique, just as any other recognised orthodontic appliance in their normal training programme.

It benefits the patients, when appropriate for their malocclusion, and trainees are prepared as clinicians in the real world just as in other techniques.  The hospital world is the natural site to push the boundaries and carry out research. We have commenced treatment of some orthognathic surgical cases as well as child malocclusions to test the efficiency of this technique. I am grateful for the professional synergy with Align to develop this training - now into our second year - and look forward to the future learning together.

This has not been without some cynicism in the UK Orthodontic arena, but it is the way of the present and the future for our Specialist trainees to be equal, if not better, than any in the world in all techniques, as I feel they have been for decades. To not see these opportunities with Align is to bury one’s head in the sand.”

Hashmat Popat, senior lecturer/consultant orthodontistfrom TheSchool of Dentistry at Cardiff Universityadded,“We are pleased to be the only teaching institution in Wales to offer academic and practical training in Invisalign treatment.  We worked with Align Technology to successfully integrate their certificate course into the academic teaching programme.  Our postgraduate students will be now able to smoothly move into independent clinical practice and offer patients a fuller range of orthodontic treatment options.  We are now looking forward to developing research projects with Align Technology.”

Each university programme gives up to twenty orthodontic students in every intake the opportunity to undergo training from experienced orthodontic specialists who are skilled in the use of the Invisalign orthodontic appliance and can share both theoretical and practical expertise.  Tutors include Dr Graham Gardner who has completed over 650 Invisalign cases and these sessions are complemented by practical sessions from Align’s Clinical Advisors.    

Course tutor and Key Opinion Leader Graham Gardner explains more: “As specialist orthodontists it is imperative that we keep fully abreast with the latest trends in orthodontics.  Invisalign is now not only a fully-fledged orthodontic appliance system but has also stood the test of time despite many cynics predicting its demise within a couple of years of its launch.  I have been fortunate to be involved with Invisalign since its arrival in England in 2001.  With more than 13 years’ experience with the appliance I am more excited today about doing Invisalign than I have ever been.  For me, the benefit of Invisalign is not merely the convenience for the patient of wearing a relatively comfortable, removable, thin, plastic aligner but, the Clincheck software which offers an incredible insight into the biomechanics and treatment stages that are required to achieve the result. From a clinical and diagnostic perspective, I believe we have to understand our biomechanics more fully in order to achieve the desired results.   For me, the Clincheck diagnostic and treatment software utilized by Invisalign is what distinguishes Invisalign from any other appliance system, fixed or removable. 

The teaching opportunities that the Invisalign Clincheck offer the postgraduate orthodontic registar, I think, are unparalleled.  I am incredibly excited that Invisalign is now beginning to be included into orthodontic education programmes as I view this as an exciting future for orthodontics.  Certainly the greater majority of patients in my practice are now treated with Invisalign and, as I have gained more experience, together with improved Clincheck features, attachment design and materials, treatment outcomes have improved.  I think that Specialist Orthodontists qualifying today have a very exciting future ahead of them where we are not restricted to metal wires and brackets.  The best time to learn new treatment modalities and appliance systems is during our orthodontic specialist training.” 

The  Invisalign University Training Programme starts with an introduction to the Invisalign Doctor Site; treatment options and treatment selection; record submission; the use of the ClinCheck software and aligner delivery, through to monitoring and finishing.  Each university is provided with a University Kit which includes Invisalign materials and access to the Clincheck software programme - everything the students need to get started. The participating university is also issued with a username and password for students to use to access the Invisalign Dr Site which is a website portal for submitting cases. In addition to this, the site includes an educational sub-site which is continuously updated with clinical tips, hints, clinical presentations and publications.  Students will also have access to the International Treatment Gallery to view completed cases and they are encouraged to submit their own treatments to the International Treatment Gallery after completion.  

Other benefits include additional free Invisalign treatments and discounts once the first student intake has submitted their first cases.  Every student who participates is also entitled to an Invisalign account which is activated after their graduation, which allows them to care for patients using the Invisalign system once they start in practice.