Invisalign Express

[H10130]

Hi,

I am finishing up my treatment and told my orthodontist I had some concerns about spacing which still existed and thought I should get refinement trays. I was told my case was an "Invisalign Express" case and that would cost additional money. I had originally been told refinements were part of my paid treatment.

I was never informed that I was put into the Express program and was very surprised. In fact I didn't even know the program existed! My current orthodontist took over my case from another orthodontist who left the office halfway during my treatment. My new orthodontist admitted to me that the original orthodontist had gone against the invisalign recommendations which did not think I should use Express.

To make matters worse apparently the orthodontists at this office work as independent contractors. My current orthodontist is afraid she'll have to personally pay for the refinements and the office manager came in midway through our conversation and told her to stop talking to me and call Invisalign for further instructions!

I'm worried I'll end of paying. Also, I'm concerned about agitating my orthodontist and getting even further negligent treatment from the office.

Can I have some thoughts on how I should move forward? I'm very confused and feel like I've been taken advantage of by a doctor.

Thanks,

Peter

[Adam]

Did you sign anything?

[Sunny]

Peter please don't worry about how you'll be treated if you continue to ask for what you consider is due to you. The staff at your orthodontist's should be professional, so please expect no less of them.

Here's to you soon having your refinements completed at no additional cost to you.

Good luck!

[H10130]

Hi Adam,

No, I didn't sign anything. But I do have a receipt for "Comprehensive Orthodontic Care". Do people usually sign something when they begin treatment?

[H10130]

Hi Sunny,

Actually they have been pretty unprofessional. When I brought up the gaps my orthodontist pretty much went straight into damage control mode and started trying to move me back to my original orthodontist. When I asked why she told me "it's my professional opinion". When I asked for specifics (like what is wrong that would make me need to go back to my original orthodontist) she refuses to tell me and accused me of playing mind games with her. It was really freaky.

I get the impression that my current orthodontist thinks my original one messed up the case and wants me to get dumped back so she doesn’t have to incur any expenses.

[Sunny]

Peter are you able to see your original orthodontist to ask questions of him?

With invisalign, gaps are the responsibility of the invisalign company providing the aligners, not the orthodontist, although you were right to bring them to your ortho's attention and ask for advice. Orthodontist's are more like 'overseers' when it comes to treating people with invisalign. It's the invisalign company that makes all the decisions.

You definitely should have had paper work to sign. With invisalign, we have more paper work than with bracket braces, as invisalign is limited in the outcomes it can achieve.

I recommend you make an appointment to talk to your orthodontist, not your usual appointment, but one to discuss your treatment and 'where to from here ...' etc.

Good luck!

[Zoso]

With invisalign, gaps are the responsibility of the invisalign company providing the aligners, not the orthodontist

If the orthodongtist accepted the treatment plan and results, then surely those results are the responsibility of the attending orthodontist. It's important to remember that the people at Align Tech who set up the treatment plan are just computer technicians, not orthodontists, or even dentists. When the technique is being properly employed the consulting dentist/ortho will play a significant role in defining and approving the treatment plan.