If they tell you, ‘Orthodontics isn’t for me!’, they might be surprised

  Posted by: Dental Design      21st January 2022

For patients looking to gain a more aesthetically pleasing smile, via treatment that is hassle-free and can be delivered by their regular dentist, they might assume whitening is the only option.

But whiter, brighter teeth will look even better when they are beautifully aligned. If a patient doesn’t think orthodontics is for them, this could be for a number of reasons. Adults from a certain generation may have (literally) painful memories of multiple visits to have their unsightly metal brace tightened, feeling sore for days afterwards, with some foods off limits. If a brace blighted someone’s teen years, making an unwelcome appearance in multiple school photographs, orthodontics is likely to be the last thing they wish to contemplate in adulthood. In the past, treatment was also often via a separate, specialist practice, and wasn’t something generally offered by a general dentist.

Or, it may be the case that any issue they have with the alignment of their teeth is mild, or moderate. This is another factor for not giving orthodontic treatment much thought. Why bother investing time and money when the result could be imperceptible to anyone else?

But there are modern orthodontic options that are comfortable, efficient and incredibly discrete, so fixing a ‘minor’ problem can have major, lasting and ongoing benefits. Suddenly, smiling becomes much easier and enjoyable. The social currency of a beautiful, confident smile cannot be underestimated and never goes out of fashion, either. The boost to a patient’s wellbeing will positively impact on multiple areas of their daily life, also their health. A beautiful new smile is one that they will want to maintain and keep healthy by elevating their oral hygiene routine. They will instinctively want to ensure it always looks wonderful and be willing to invest the effort, so their treatment endures. This is a natural, human response to gaining something they’re very proud of, and never want to be without.

So, how can you open the conversation with your patients about orthodontics? If they are talking to you about tooth whitening, the two treatments often complement each other. Use the ‘hook’ of whitening to discuss what you offer at your practice, without them needing to go anywhere else. Talk to them about how, although whitening can take them so far in their quest for a better smile, modern orthodontics will help them complete their journey. These treatments are not only a world away from anything that they may have previously experienced, but they can be delivered by their regular dental team who has been appropriately trained. Ethical is another word that they may be interested to hear, because teeth can now be straightened successfully and without any compromise to healthy tissue.

Some systems are truly cutting-edge too! The kind of orthodontics you offer at your practice will be key to interest and uptake. When you are committed to quality, this becomes a selling point. Once orthodontic treatment has been mentioned, you can expect patients to start doing their own research online and, if they book a further consultation, will come armed with questions about why X system is better than Y.

Offer an industry-leading solution, such as ClearCorrect^Ò, which is perfect for people who want to straighten their teeth without everybody knowing about it. It can be integrated into a digital workflow, to ensure a well-planned and efficient digital journey from data capture, through to manufacture and monitoring. ClearCorrect^Òaligners fit comfortably over the teeth to gently guide them into place. The aligners can be taken out for cleaning and eating, plus ate entirely discrete. Fabricated from ClearQuartz™, a new, innovative tri-layer material, this is high-tech orthodontics for a new generation.

Offering quality orthodontics at your practice will not only bring in a new revenue stream but training on how to implement these modern solutions will optimise your skillset. Also, it can be a gateway to other options that will further boost a patient’s dental aesthetics as well as function, so solutions like whitening and composite bonding.

If patients tell you orthodontics isn’t for them… ask them, why not? This will start a conversation about perception, which could transform their thinking about why they aren’t choosing straighter teeth. A beautiful, healthy smile of their dreams, delivered by their local practice… when you exceed your patients’ expectations, they become your best advert.

For more information on ClearCorrect^®, visit: https://www.straumann.com/clearcorrect/en/home.html