Written by Dr. Febin Mary George, BDS | Medically Reviewed by Dr. Zein El Hammouz, DDS, MFD/RCSI.
Clear aligners have gained popularity ever since their introduction owing to the unique perks that they offer. Patients favor them because of their virtually invisible appearance and increased comfort. On the other hand, clinicians find them attractive owing to several benefits like reduced chair time and better orthodontic treatment outcomes. In this article, let us understand how clear aligners profitability can make a significant contribution to increasing the total revenue of your practice.
The clear aligner industry has shown a positive growth curve ever since the concept of clear aligners was introduced in the field of braces. There has been a steady hike in the number of clear aligner companies as well. If you are still asking the question- “Are clear aligners profitable?” and doubting if introducing this latest orthodontic innovation in your practice will be of benefit then you should read the below-mentioned points:
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Reduced chair time is one of the significant reasons for clear aligners profitability. Traditional braces often need frequent follow-up visits where the progress of the treatment needs to be evaluated. While the placement of brackets can take anywhere between half an hour to one hour in conventional braces, one can complete the initial session of fitting clear aligners within 5 to 10 minutes. Thus, the time saved through clear aligners can be utilized productively in accepting more cases or performing other profitable dental treatment procedures. Moreover, doctors can boost their clinic revenue by offering clear aligners to patients living abroad who cannot visit the dental office for frequent follow-ups.
When it comes to clear aligner therapy, almost the entire process is software-assisted and can be performed outside the clinic. This means that doctors can spend more time focusing on more profitable initiatives. Such as, reducing the patient wait time, enhancing communication between staff, ensuring all clinical and management processes are efficient etc.
A study was conducted to compare the clear aligners profit with that of conventional braces.1 It revealed that clear aligners could provide the dentist a profit of around $1000 per hour of chairside time which is roughly $250 more than the profit provided by conventional braces. Now, that’s huge, isn't it!
Clear aligners are undoubtedly more comfortable than traditional braces. It is far easier to maintain oral hygiene with clear aligners than with traditional braces. Moreover, the smooth material of clear aligners takes away all the woes of loose wires, detached brackets, and painful bruises.
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When you spend some extra time on your treatment plan preparation, your efforts will surely pay off as you will need fewer case revisions, thereby ensuring better profitability.
Treatment planning with clear aligners has been revolutionized through the use of digital technology and is no longer a pure manual affair. Clinicians can generate accurate, computerized virtual plans and bring about the necessary modifications with the help of specialized software.3
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Due to the lower chairside time taken by each clear aligner patient, it is easier to schedule a higher number of cases each day.
Your clear aligner patients act as brand ambassadors of your practice who can bring you more cases. Moreover, you may get referrals from practices that have not yet adopted clear aligners.
Introducing clear aligners in your clinic can help you build a solid brand. Remember, the demand for clear aligners is growing day-by-day. If you do not provide them with clear aligners, they will look for others who do. Therefore, become a certified Eon Aligner provider and level up like never before!
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When you first introduce clear aligners to your patients, they may be skeptical about their effectiveness. As a clinician, you play a big role in the patient’s clear aligners acceptance. If you yourself are convinced of the magnificent potential of clear aligners to transform smiles, you will be able to convince your patients easily. Listed below are a few strategies that can be used to increase clear aligners acceptance:
The demand for clear aligners has shown a steady hike over the past few years owing to many factors such as; increase in the number of malocclusion cases, rise in orthodontic technological advancements and a positive inclination towards customized invisible aligners. While the current clear aligners market size value in 2022 is estimated to be USD 4 billion, it is expected to increase by CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 29.5% till 2030.4 This data should be strong enough to clarify your doubts like- ‘Are clear aligners worth it?’!
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