My general dentist wants to do my invisalign treatment which i have been told is not easy. what should i do? our general dentist does everything including root canals, extractions and implants. i trust him but my teeth are really messed up what should i d

General : General dentists can be trained to do invisalign treatment and do need to go through certification. Some dentists take orthodontic continuing education classes. But not all dentists do orthodontics all the time. If your case is difficult your general dentist could run it by a collegue that is an orthodontist to see how extensive your invisalign treatment may be. I would recommend also getting an orthodontic consult. Orthodontist who are premier providers or elite have done hundreds of invisalign cases. If you have been told that you have a difficult case you might want to seek alternative treatment options like traditional, ceramic, damon, lingual, etc. Find someone you are comfortable with, does invisalign all the time and is the right fit for your difficult case. Good luck.

Dentists : Dentists who graduate from dental school are all, at first, general dentists who are trained in all aspects of dental care. Some decide to go to further training and specialize in a specific area of practice. Those specialists are better trained to handle the difficulty of problematic cases, and may have more experience with your specific problem. However, there are many general dentists (including myself) who have taken countless hours of continuing education, have many years of experience, and are extremely comfortable with their skills. I have been completing full mouth orthodontic cases for over 20 years, and have been surgically placing dental implants for an equal amout of time. Although not a specialist, i provide many specialty services to my patients. I evaluate each case carefully, and when I do not have enough confidence in my abilities for a certain procedure, i refer the patient to one of the many wonderful specialists i work closely with. As a team, we give the patient the best possible treatment. I am sure your general dentist would not want to start your treatment if he did not think he could complete it. You stated you trust him, which is the most important part of your decision. As advised, it may not be bad to get a second opinion by a specialist in orthodontics. In this way you will be better informed as to the problems that may arise, or alternatives to the invisalign treatment that your generalist may not perform. Best of luck to you.

The : The most important thing about any treatment approach is to know it's limitations. I am an invisalign premier provider and I have done hundreds of cases but also evaluated many that were not appropriate for invisalign because of the tooth movement required. If you doc thinks it's a tough case find out if he is completely confident that he can get you a good result. Your question mentions that you "have been told" that it is not easy-does that mean that he told you or someone else? If it was a friend or neighbor stick with your dentist's opinion. If you're not comfortable with that, see an orthodontist for another opinion to see if some other form of treatment would be better for you. Invisalign for the right case and in the right docs hands is a great treatment. Just make sure it's right for you.

Invisalign : Invisalign has advantages and disadvantages as compared to conventional orthodontic treatment with bands and brackets. In my opinion, the diagnostic skills and treatment competency of your dentist is more important than the technique used in order to obtain the best treatment result.

I : I would make sure i had two opinions from other dentists besides your own before i start invisalign treatment. Most dentists have no problem giving complimentary consultations. This is an expensive procedure and a good one, but i would make sure it is the right procedure for your teeth. You say your teeth are messed up but you trust him. Also did your dentist or someone else tell you invisalign treatment is not easy? It is far easier than traditional braces and much more esthetically pleasing. It is also easier to maintain good oral health since your aligners are removable allowing you to clean and floss your teeth. If you trust your dentist and he has done a good amount of invisalign cases and the other dentists you see say invisalign is right for you, then i would stay with a dentist that i knew and trusted.

Invisalign : Invisalign is not for everyone, it works great for certain specific cases, but conventional orthodontics often work best. Invisalign isn't difficult for patients who are candidates, you wear a clear guard on your teeth that pushes them into position. A good, honest orthodontist will advise you the best way to treat your teeth.

I : I am an invisalign provider and invisalign is easier than regular braces. It is much easier to keep your teeth clean-no wires and none of my patients have ended up with cavities around the attachments or gum disease because they couldn't keep their teeth clean. Any time you have a valid question like this, a second opinion is a good idea.

.This : .This question comes down to the difference between a specialist and a general dentist. Each can be qualified to do invisalign and each has access to the same resources from the laboratory that manufactures invisalign. Some specialist can be more experienced and able to manage more severe cases, while some general dentists are more capable then a specialist. Like any profession there is quality and there is less then quality. In my experience, it comes down to a matter of trust. Find who you trust and ask them their experience with your type of case, ask them what you can expect in an outcome, what surprises could there be, and how they stand behind their work. I think the open dialogue should help easy your fear of the unknown and make clear your expectations. Hope this is helpful, michael i. Wollock, dmd, agd fellow.

I : I have been certified to do invisalign for several years now and have found that every dentist has a different comfort zone when it comes to invisalign. I would recommend asking your dentist approximately how many cases he has already done and to see before and after pictures so that you can get an idea of what types of cases he has worked with. For instance; does he seem to only do closing up spaces, very minor movement, cross bites, overbites, etc. Your dentist should be able to explain what type of case you are in comparison to other cases he's done, therefore, reassuring you that he is comfortable and capable to handle your individual case with invisalign. I would also recommend having a dentist who has done a minimum of thirty invisalign cases. I wish you the best of luck and have certainly seen many happy invisalign patients.

There : There is a certification process for general dentists to be qualified to do invisalign. If they feel comfortable with your case, they are likely capable. Be sure you are comfortable and get as many professional opinions until you feel ok. Understand that some orthodontists will say that general dentists are not capable, but many general dentists are very skilled with orthodontics. Ask to see previous cases and examples of your dentist's work.

Experience counts: Some general dentists are more experienced in invisalign than orthodontists. Invisalign was available to both from the onset. Experience trumps specialty. Ask him how many cases he has done.

See an Orthodontist: See the specialist that does only this. See the orthodontist. If your teeth are as messed up as you say, the liklihood of invisalign working is slim. Do yourself a favor -- see the orthodontist. If you had a heart problem, you would see the heart doctor (cardiologist). This is the same thing.

Seek 2nd opinion: Your dentist is obligated to offer the option of seeking an opinion with an orthodontist as part of informed consent. For your peace of mind, get a second opinion with an orthodontic specialist so that you may be completely informed about your options when making a decision about what is best for your issues.

Seek 2nd opinion: I have a lot of trouble with the megadentist who thinks they can do everything and do it well. 2+ years full-time (>5, 000 hours) training in orthodontics and full-time specialty practice vrs a few weekend courses, lectures at meetings, and a small percentage of hours/week spent dabbling in tooth movement. Do you want a neurosurgeon or a gp to rx your brain tumor? Invisalign doesn't work well.

Go with your feeling: If you trust your dentist, then talk with him about it. If he is offering to do invisalign treatment, he has likely done the necessary training in order to offer it as a service to you.

Invisalign: Invisalign is not brain surgery. Ask your dentist how many cases he or she has completed, what kind of complications they have experienced and how they corrected them. From what you have described, he or she sounds very competent.

Orthodontist: I would have an orthodontist treat you rather than your dentist. They are specially trained to do this-- your dentist is not.

It depends: The reality is many general dentists do a great job with invisalign on straight-forward cases. The problem is that there are many who do not know its limitations and can get themselves and their patients into a mess by not recognizing a case that would either be better treated by a more advanced invisalign practitioner (orthodontist) or by using other treatment methods (braces, surgery, etc.).

Jack of all ace of 0: Sure it is possible that your general dentist can do great root canals, oral surgery and dental implants but you are questioning if invisalign will work on your orthodontically "messed up" teeth. If they look that bad to you and you are questioning your dentist's judgement in this one area of expertise. I would trust my instincts and get a second opinion from an orthodontist.

Invisalign treatment: Invisalign treatment in the right situations can be very effective. You are making a big investment in $$, time and effort. You would be best served, and your investment best rewarded, to have a trained orthodontic specialist evaluate your condition and offer you realistic, effective, and stable options for your treatment.