ADA News

Responding to customer complaints and input from dental organizations, including the ADA, Align Technologies, Inc., announced April 22 that, effective immediately, it no longer would require dentists to start at least 10 cases each year in order to remain Invisalign providers.

ADA leaders learned in a telephone conversation with Align President Thomas Prescott this week that the company had dropped the 10-case requirement from a so-called "proficiency program."

Announced in June 2009, the 10-case requirement was met with sharp opposition from dentists using the Invisalign system and spurred the ADA to contact the company.

Dr. Ron Tankersley

"We were able to sustain the relationship with Align while working to convince them that their proficiency requirements would not be effective in assuring patient satisfaction or professional competency," said Dr. Ron Tankersley, ADA president. "We are pleased to have played a role in reversing this policy on behalf of our members."

In disclosing its policy change, Align also issued a "Frequently Asked Questions" document in which the company acknowledged that it was dropping the annual case requirement from its proficiency program in response to customer "frustration and unhappiness" with the policy.

"Many customers were upset by the proficiency program, particularly the case requirement," the company noted. "The volume of complaint letters has tapered off, but the mood and frustration of our customers has not improved."

The FAQ goes on to note that the company was aware that many state and national dental organizations also opposed the case requirements.

"Many organizations, including the [American Association of Orthodontists] and the ADA, have recommended that Align focus on continuing education, rather than case requirements, as a means to encourage proficiency," Align said in its FAQ.

The company also acknowledged that opposition to the proficiency program was "far more intense" than Align had anticipated.

In addition to the 10-case-per-year requirement, Align's original proficiency program also required providers to complete 10 Invisalign continuing education hours per year.

That part of the program will remain, the company said, noting that "Invisalign is an evolving product and technique, and ongoing training and education are necessary to stay up to date with ongoing product and clinical advancements."

Providers who fail to complete 10 or more Invisalign CE hours in a calendar year will have their Invisalign account temporarily suspended until they complete the minimum CE requirement. They will retain full access to in-progress cases, but won’t be able to submit new cases.

Align offers a clinical education curriculum with more than 200 hours of lecture-based and online learning opportunities each year. All online content is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at no charge to Align customers.