Australasian Dentist Issue 92

CATEGORY 104 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST C L E A R A L I G N E R S , O R T H O A P P L I A N C E S R ecent market research estimates that the Australian clear aligner market will reach nearly three quarters of a billion dollars (AUD $739M) by 2028. This translates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.7% from 2021 to 2028. The growth projection sits well with recent reporting from Orthodontics Australia that finds more than half (55%) of the population is self-conscious about their teeth, and 62% are willing to fix their misaligned teeth. However, this double-digit swell will simply crash over the heads of most general dentists in the country, according to the founders of Clear Aligner Excellence (CAE). Doctors Geoff Hall and Jesse Green believe that aligners are currently being under-utilised by general dentists to treat patients and their associated malocclusion. The reasons for the underutilisation, as they see it, include: 1. Lack of clinical confidence to offer treatment to the types of malocclusions presenting in their practice every day. 2. Lack of business and practice management processes to effectively integrate aligner therapy into their practice. 3. The impact of aligner lab fees on profit margins. Are you ready for the aligner wave? As growing numbers of Australians search for more affordable and aesthetically pleasing alternatives to traditional metal braces, the clear aligner market is poised for a huge wave in the years ahead. By Danny Chan You say you want a revolution ... Using a monthly subscription and membershipmodel, CAE was set up to help members overcome these barriers through: 1. Providing online clinical and practice development training and education. 2. Driving patient traffic through internal and external marketing campaigns. 3. Access to an exclusive buying network. Regarded as one of Australia’s pioneers inmodern-dayorthodontics andeducation, DrGeoffHall is a specialist orthodontist that also runs MP Orthodontics in Cheltenham, Melbourne, as co-owner and principal orthodontist. “Most aligner companies charge Australian dentists about double than what they charge dentists in America. We have been royally screwed over from the aligner lab fees,” Dr Hall says. “Our goal is to level the playing field for CAE member dentists and in turn reducing cost as a barrier to patients accepting treatment,” Dr Hall says. “What we’ve done is develop commercial relationships with major aligner companies to negotiate preferred pricing for CAE members,” he shares. “The buying network will offer heavy discounts and preferential rates covering lab fees for all major aligner systems including Invisalign®, SmileStyler®, Clear­ Correct®, SureSmile®, and AngelAlign®. The resulting savings in aligner lab fees can be as much as AUD $900 per case, and additional reputable aligner brands are on the way.” “Based on what we now offer, the treatment is more commercially viable. We Dr Geoffrey Hall Dr Jesse Green