Beverly Hills Orthodontics Practice Participated in Invisalign Teen Pilot Program

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 –LOS ANGELES AND SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – Invisalign Teen is expected to launch amid much fanfare this month, but it has taken information from orthodontists participating in the product’s pilot program to get the product cleared for universal use. Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen, an orthodontist in Beverly Hills, is one of seven West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills orthodontics practices that participated in the pilot study for the Invisalign Teen product.

Traditional Invisalign

To understand the incredible advancements of Invisalign Teen, it is important to first look at how traditional Invisalign works. Invisalign has been around for 11 years. Instead of the metal “train track” braces often used to align teeth, Invisalign uses custom-molded clear aligners that specifically fit each individual patient. Also known as “invisible braces,” Invisalign has increased in popularity as patients have learned more about the product’s advantages, said Nikaeen, who has been a certified Invisalign provider since 1999.

There are aesthetic reasons for choosing Invisalign, but this alignment method also boasts great oral hygiene benefits, Nikaeen said. Flossing and brushing are easier, due to the patient’s ability to remove the aligners when needed.

Invisalign Teen

Align Technology, Inc.- the makers of Invisalign- introduced Invisalign Teen this month to specifically address the needs of the teen treatment market. It is touted as being the biggest launch since the company’s inception. The teen product is “slightly different” from current Invisalign products, Nikaeen said.

Namely, it has new features geared toward teens who are still growing. Perhaps the most telltale sign that this product is geared toward teens is its compliance indicator. Each aligner has a tiny blue dot that only dissipates with wear. “The only time Invisalign doesn’t work is when people don’t wear the aligners,” Karen Unruh, territory manager for Align Technology, Inc. “This will be a nice selling point for the parents because this will tell whether the patient is wearing the aligners or not.”

Compliance indicators could become a fixture on all aligners in the future because adults sometimes are guilty of not wearing their aligners as much as they should, too, Unruh said. Invisalign Teen offers up to six free replacement sets of aligners, in the event the aligners get lost or broken .

Normally, the aligners cost $50 each. The teen product also showcases specially engineered aligner features that address the natural eruption of second molars and root control issues common in teenage patients, Nikaeen said. “We live in an aesthetically-driven society,” Nikaeen said. “Increasingly, teens don’t want the hassle of wearing brackets.” Invisalign Teen is a product that allows students to remove the aligners for key moments, such as prom and senior photos.

Pilot Program

Nikaeen and 726 other orthodontists throughout the nation participated in the Invisalign Teen pilot study and provided valuable information on the product. The top 900 submitting orthodontists in the nation were invited to participate, Unruh said. Being among the selected is a prestigious endeavor.

Of 250 doctors in Unruh’s area, only seven were selected, with Nikaeen being one of them. Participating orthodontists were asked to submit three cases and submit feedback during the process, Unruh said. Nikaeen jumped at the opportunity to participate in the study. “I have been very pleased with the results my patients get from Invisalign,” Nikaeen said. “Having an Invisalign product geared toward teens has been a welcome addition and I look forward to using it in more cases where appropriate.” Read the full article titled on Beverly Hills Orthodontics Practice Participated in Invisalign Teen Pilot Program.

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about Invisalign Teen or would like additional information on orthodontic treatment, visit Dr. Nikaeen’s Web site: www.invisibraces.com or call her Los Angeles office for a free consultation: (310) 444-1113.

About Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen

Dr. Nikaeen graduated with honors from dental school in 1993 and received a doctorate in dental surgery. She gained experience practicing general dentistry for several years before attending Columbia University School of Dentistry and Oral Surgeons in New York, where she earned her post-doctoral education in orthodontics and received an orthodontic specialty certificate.

Dr. Nikaeen became a diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics in 2007. She also is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics, West Los Angeles Dental Society, Los Angeles Women’s Dental Society (past vice president), the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association and the Los Angeles Dental Society. In addition to running her practice, Dr. Nikaeen is a faculty member at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Orthodontic Department and teaches orthodontic residents. Dr. Nikaeen’s Los Angeles practice serves patients throughout Southern California, including Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

© 2008 Sinai Marketing and Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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