“Patients prefer dentists who take a minimally invasive approach”

Dr Ilzarbe, what is your perspective on the introduction of Invisalign Smile Architect in the practice and in combination with aesthetic dentistry?
Patients prefer dentists who take a minimally invasive approach and aim to preserve as much tissue as possible. They want healthy teeth, not just a beautiful result. If I can align teeth to save enamel, it’s perfect. This is particularly important to me as a professional and from a clinical outcome perspective because I can achieve both aesthetics and minimal invasiveness at the same time, thanks to this software.

What do you think is the greatest improvement in Invisalign Smile Architect software compared with the previous dental smile design systems?
It’s a totally different approach. As a general dentist I always plan first, then align the teeth and lastly perform the restorative procedure. Invisalign Smile Architect allows users to add their restorative treatment planning into the software, providing a clearer understanding of the purpose of aligning the teeth and the desired final position. The planning and communication tool enables dentists to plan more effectively with their team and to share information with patients, all within the ClinCheck platform.

How difficult is it to learn to use the new software?
Learning to use new software always takes time. However, Invisalign Smile Architect uses terminology dentists are familiar with. For example, dentists rely on various guiding lines for planning and Invisalign Smile Architect uses the same lines to support the diagnostic process: the midline, the smile curve or smile arc, and the proportions of the central incisors, lateral incisors and canines. It’s the same ClinCheck software, but with more options and tools to improve the dentist’s understanding of the patient’s needs in order to deliver the best treatment.