At mydentist, we know that career development is about more than just gaining experience - it is about having the right support to grow your skills and confidence. That’s why we provide clinicians with the tools and guidance they need to broaden their treatment options, including one of the fastest-growing areas in dentistry: clear aligners. 

In episode 2 of Know the Drill, Clinical Development Advisors Rosanna Posl and Ruairi Leonard shared their experiences of introducing clear aligners into their practice, the benefits of this treatment and how clinicians can get started. 

Why offer clear aligner treatment?

Clear aligners are often thought of as purely cosmetic, but they also provide significant health benefits. Straightening teeth can improve occlusion, prevent uneven wear and reduce pressure on heavily restored teeth, helping to preserve long-term dental health. 

Rosanna commented: "What people think of most with aligners is that it is actually for aesthetics, that it aligns the teeth to make them look nicer. But what a lot of people forget is that it actually has a massive benefit to dental health as well." 

Ruairi agreed, highlighting the impact aligner treatment can have on patient confidence: "Moving away from the dental aspect of it, I think I have noticed the mental health and the confidence that patients get... I have patients now - I have got a lady, and I always use this example - she is a 64-year-old lady, and she was never offered any aligners or ortho or any kind of treatment. She had a really bad malocclusion where her lower jaw was quite tucked in far behind her. Overjet was quite big. And I said, let’s give it a go. And now she sings my praise, bless her, every time I see her." 

The benefits of offering clear aligner treatment 

For clinicians, adding clear aligners to their skillset can be both professionally and personally rewarding. Ruairi described how his work with aligners has given him a better work-life balance, commenting: "My favourite day of the week is actually the day I work the longest because I do clear aligners most of the day... From about 5 o’clock onwards, 90% of the patients are all my clear aligner patients. And it is a really enjoyable experience because, as Rosanna has already said, we do not lift a drill. There is not a lot of wet finger dentistry in there. They come in, we check the aligners, it is a chat and the odd little tweak here and there in the treatment. It is all just really positive." 

Clear aligners also allow clinicians to provide more comprehensive treatment options for their patients. Rosanna explained: "It just makes me able to provide more treatment options to my patients as well. So, it is a GDC requirement to offer patients choice and there are always multiple ways that lead to a great result... It just makes me feel more confident in my treatments and makes me more confident I can solve the issues that patients are asking me to solve." 

Training and support at mydentist 

At mydentist, we make it easy for clinicians to broaden their skills by providing clear aligner training through the mydentist Academy, peer review groups and dedicated Clinical Development Advisors.  

Rosanna highlighted the value of our internal resources: "What I really, really like is our intranet, Wisdom, where we have got the Clear Aligner Toolkit... It just provides support for basically everyone, whether that be ‘I am interested in aligners, and I just want to have a look,’ or whether you are an experienced clinician just looking for support. It has got everything in it." 

Ruairi also emphasised the support available through peer networks: "The beautiful thing about us at mydentist is that you are never far away from someone who is quite high up within either Invisalign or ClearCorrect... We are a unique network within mydentist, that we are never sort of two or three clinicians away from someone else who is way more experienced than us in these different fields." 

Getting started with clear aligners

For clinicians interested in offering clear aligners, the first step is training. Courses for Invisalign and ClearCorrect can be booked through mydentist Academy, and private and specialist development managers are always available to help guide clinicians in the right direction. 

Ruairi encouraged those interested to start by speaking to colleagues, adding: "If a clinician is interested in doing clear aligners, just have a conversation with a clinician who is already doing it. Get your hands into some aligners, have a look, have a feel. We can get you in touch with the area reps for ClearCorrect and Invisalign, who can also point you in that direction." 

Looking ahead 

With the rise of digital dentistry and AI-assisted treatment planning, the future of clear aligners is exciting. Rosanna highlighted the benefits of new innovations like Clear Forward, which provides treatment planning support from orthodontic specialists, commenting: "It just takes so much pressure off, especially at the start when you are inexperienced, to have someone who is very experienced plan the case for you, and you can learn so much from them as well." 

Ruairi also pointed to the growing role of AI-driven dental monitoring: “Essentially, it is a little take-home kit that a patient can use... They will take this little photo of their teeth and AI generates a message back to them. You get it as the dentist as well, and it will sort of say to the patient, ‘Yes, you are tracking really well, your aligners are going the way they are meant to, but we are picking up a little bit of gingivitis there. You might need to floss a bit better down in the lower area.’" 

Confidence, career growth and community  

At mydentist, we are proud to support clinicians as they develop their skills, helping them build their confidence and careers. Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand your practice, clear aligners are a great opportunity to enhance patient care and job satisfaction. 

If you are interested in learning more, visit mydentist Academy to explore available courses, reach out to your Clinical Development Advisor or join one of our peer review groups to hear from experienced clinicians. 

Stay tuned for more insights from Know the Drill as we continue to explore the future of digital dentistry, the benefits of different treatment pathways and how to maintain your wellbeing as a dental professional. 

Listen to Know the Drill  

All four episodes of Know the Drill are now available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Whether you’re looking for practical career advice, insights into digital dentistry or tips on maintaining a strong work-life balance, this series is here to support you.  

Are you ready to find a career that fits your life? Learn more about life at mydentist as you visit our careers website with more information about opportunities for dentists at one of our 500+ UK-based dental practices.