New Kodak 9000 Digital X Ray Machine

To serve our patients better, OrthoWorks is happy to announce the addition of the latest state of the art Kodak 9000 Digital X Ray Machine to our San Bruno office. The advantages of this technology mean that a darkroom and chemicals are no longer required to process x-rays and images can be stored digitally. Computed radiography rarely requires retake due to wider exposure latitude, which results in lower radiation to the patient. Image acquisition is much faster - image previews can be available in less than 15 seconds. Images can be enhanced digitally to aid in interpretation. Images can be stored on disk or transmitted for off-site review. The Kodak 9000 Machine is capable of taking 3-D X-Ray images as well as traditional Panoramic and Head X-Rays.

Panoramic Imaging
Providing twelve different anatomical settings, the KODAK 9000 System is an ideal solution for panoramic shots. The focal trough easily adapts to each patient, adjusting to fit his or her jaw morphology and incisor orientation—with clear, detailed images that can be easily diagnosed.


Cephalometric Imaging
Improve productivity and reduce retakes with the innovative "one-shot" technology that allows clear, sharp cranial images be taken in less than a second. Offering the broadest range of image formats, including full cranial option as well as standard formats.

Focused-Field 3D Imaging
3D Imaging provides more accurately and detailed, anatomically correct images. The focused field-of-view makes it simple to generate high-resolution images for each tooth and easily view all angles and slices you need within an acquired volume.

The 5 C's of Invisalign

Invisalign is a great way to transform your smile without interfering with your daily life. Here are five reasons why more than a million people have found Invisalign to be the clear choice:

Customization
We take precise impressions of your teeth and customize your aligners for you, based on a treatment plan devised especially for your particular needs. Whether your teeth are too close together, too far apart, or improperly aligned, your unique set of aligners is designed to steadily guide your teeth to their final position.

Comfort
The edges of your aligners are smooth, with no wires or metal pieces, so they won’t irritate your gums or cheeks. (When you switch to a new aligner, you may feel some pressure as the next stage of treatment begins. This is normal and means it’s working.)

Clarity
Made of clear, biocompatible resins, your aligners are virtually invisible. Most people won’t notice you’re straightening your teeth, so you can start practicing your new smile right away.

Continuous Improvement
Invisalign treatment consists of a series of aligners that you switch out approximately every two weeks. Each successive aligner takes your teeth a step closer to their destination. Even before your Invisalign treatment is finished, your teeth alignment will improve steadily, and you’ll begin to enjoy the benefits of a better smile.

They Come Out!
You can remove Invisalign aligners to eat, drink, brush, and floss – making it simple to keep up with your oral hygiene during the course of treatment. And you can remove them briefly if needed for a special occasion.

Give us a call today to find out how Invisalign can transform your smile.
From OrthoWorks Orthodontic Group Tel: 888-BRACES2
www.ORTHOWORKS.com



Invisalign is a trademark of Align Technology, Inc.
Copyright © Sesame Communications

Is it OK to Postpone My Child's Orthodontic Treatment?

Until the economy brightens, some parents are postponing their children’s orthodontics. Several experts, including Dr. Raymond George Sr., the president of the American Association of Orthodontists, were asked which problems need immediate action.

WHERE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE:

OVERJET
When the top teeth flare outward, represents a “risk of trauma,” said Dr. David Cordes, who teaches at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. If children fall or are hit with a ball and crack a tooth, then a root canal and a crown may be required.

MILD TO MODERATE UNDERBITE
When the bottom jaw is out in front of the upper, it’s a skeletal problem that’s correctable with braces at 7 or 8 years old, said Dr. Benjamin Burris of Arkansas. But if you wait until your child is older, jaw surgery could be in store.

IMPACTED TEETH
Losing baby teeth early can cause back teeth to drift into spots where adult teeth are meant to come in. Then they become impacted. Braces can create room for those teeth to grow out, Dr. George said.

CASES WHERE WAITING WON’T HURT
Parents often ask Dr. Burris if their child needs orthodontics. “Orthodontics is not a need,” he tells them. “Food, shelter, those are needs. Orthodontics, by and large, is a want.” Dr. Cordes said mild cases don’t demand quick action if they are cosmetic rather than trauma risk, or a functional issue where chewing is troublesome. At OrthoWorks, we offer free consultations, Please call us at 888-BRACES2 for an appointment for your child.

Science is One Step Closer to Growing Replacement Teeth

Re-searchers used stem cells to
grow a replacement tooth for
an adult mouse, the first time
scientists have developed a fully
functioning three-dimensional
organ replacement, according to
a report in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sci-
ences. The researchers at the
Tokyo University of Science cre-
ated a set of cells that con-
tained genetic instructions to
build a tooth, and then im-
planted this "tooth germ" into
the mouse's empty tooth
socket. The tooth grew out of
the socket and through the
gums, as a natural tooth would.
Once the engineered tooth ma-
tured, after 11 weeks, it had a
similar shape, hardness and re-
sponse to pain or stress as a
natural tooth, and worked
equally well for chewing. The re-
searchers suggested that using
similar techniques in humans
could restore function to pa-
tients with organ failure.

From Our Parents: What is Invisalign Teen?

Invisalign Teen is a new product from Align Technology that can straighten your child's teeth without the hassle, discomfort, and embarrassment of traditional braces. Your teen will receive a series of clear, virtually invisible aligners from the orthodontist, approximately every six weeks.

As we are treating more and more teenagers with Invisalign Teen orthodontic appliance, more parents are aware of the product. Below please find some of the most commonly asked questions from our parents at OrthoWorks (www.orthoworks.com) and the answers. If you would like your child to get a complimentary orthodontic consultation for Invisalign Teen, please call our office at 888 BRACES2.

Q: How will I know how often my child
is wearing their aligners?

A: The compliance indicators located on the
upper aligner can estimate the approximate
amount of time your teen spends wearing the
product. The indicators are designed to fade
from blue to clear as a gauge of approximate
wear time, so you can ensure your child's
compliance easily.

Q- What happens if my child does not wear the
aligners for the recommended amount of time?

A- Invisalign Teen is most effective when worn
per your doctor's recommendation. Overall, we
find the aligners are most effective if worn 20 to
22 hours per day-and removed only for eating,
brushing, and flossing. However, it is not detri-
mental to the alignment process if your child goes
without wearing aligners for short periods of time
once in a while.

Q: What happens if my child loses one or both of
their aligners?

A- In the event that an aligner is lost or broken,
your teen should inform their doctor right away.
The doctor will probably tell them to start wearing
their last set or next set of aligners immediately.
He or she will then order your teen a new set of
aligners to replace the ones that were lost. In most
cases the replacement aligners should arrive in a
few days.

Q: What is the difference between the adult
Invisalign product and the Invisalign Teen product?

A: Although many of the benefits are the same,
Invisalign Teen is differentiated by three new
features that were designed specifically for a
patient with the needs or the type of dentition
commonly found in the teen age-group.


Q: Is Invisalign as effective as traditional braces?

A: We have treated many teens with Invisalign Teen.
We've found that in the hands of a skilled practitioner
and when worn per your doctor's recommendation, Invisalign
Teen can be as effective as traditional braces for
many types of treatment.

Q: Is it easy to keep your teeth clean with
Invisalign Teen?

A: Yes! Invisalign Teen allows your child to remove
the aligners for eating or brushing their teeth, so it
is much easier to maintain proper oral hygiene with
our product than it is with traditional metal braces.
Best of all, food will not get caught on any fixed
brackets and wires, since Invisalign is removable
and wire-free!

Q: What are some other advantages of
tnvisalign Teen over traditional braces?

A: In addition to keeping a clean mouth, an
active lifestyle is made simpler when wearing
Invisalign as opposed to the fixed wire and
brackets. Since the device is removable it's easy
for your child to play sports or an instrument as
any teenager would—even one who is not in
orthodontic treatment.

Please write me if you have more questions about the Invisalign Teen Orthodontic Appliance. Invisalign Teen is on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/invisalignteen?v=feed&story_fbid=99512303911

David Shen, DMD
info@orthoworks.com

Align Technology Provides Update on Patent Litigation with Ormco Corporation

Align Technology Provides Update on Patent Litigation with Ormco Corporation

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 21, 2009 -- Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN) today provided an update on the a lawsuit brought by Ormco Corporation (Ormco) against Align Technology, Inc. (Align) in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (District Court), which was tried by jury June 9 through June 25, 2009.
As previously disclosed, on June 26, 2009, the jury delivered a verdict against Align. Ormco alleged that Align infringed claims of Ormco’s 6,616,444 patent. Align claimed non-infringement, invalidity, as well as unenforceability of the patent and equitable defenses. The jury found the claims asserted by Ormco in the 6,616,444 patent to be infringed and valid. The jury also issued an advisory verdict that Ormco did not engage in prosecution laches or unclean hands, equitable defenses raised by Align. The jury only determined liability. Any monetary damages will be determined in a later trial, which has not been schedule, but would likely occur in early 2010. The jury verdict does not preclude Align from selling its Invisalign System. We have not accrued any liability for the judgment related to the Ormco litigation as such amounts are not reasonably estimable at this time. This is due to a number of factors, including: that the Court has not yet entered judgment; that discovery regarding possible damages is a lengthy and time consuming process involving testimony of experts and has not yet begun; and that determining a reasonable royalty rate is highly fact specific and there are many complicated factors to consider in this case.

The Court requested and has received briefing on the equitable defenses raised by Align and is expected to rule on the equitable defenses later this week. Align believes the facts and the law do not support the jury’s findings of infringement and validity and therefore has filed a motion for judgment as a matter of law on all issues seeking to set aside the jury’s verdict of liability. The Court has set a hearing on our motion for August 3, 2009, after which the Court is expected to enter judgment. Depending on the judgment entered by the Court, we may file various post-trial motions and if unsuccessful, we intend to appeal the liability decision and request a stay of the damages phase of the case pending appeal.

On July 13, 2009, Ormco filed a motion for permanent injunction against Align seeking to enjoin the sale of the Invisalign System through the January 2010 expiration of the 6,616,444 patent, as well as other injunctive relief including the destruction of all material, including software, created by Align from September 2003 to the present, the discontinuation of certification programs and the decertification of doctors certified from September 2003 to the present and the destruction of sales representatives’ records developed during this time period. The Court has scheduled a hearing on the motion for permanent injunction for August 17, 2009. Ormco seeks unusual injunctive relief that we believe is unwarranted and not supported by the law or facts of the case. Align will contend that an injunction would cause irreparable harm to Align, its employees and those doctors who include Invisalign as a large part of their practice, and would interrupt patient treatment and services currently underway. In addition, a balancing of hardships weighs heavily in Align’s favor as the issuance of the injunction would require Align the cease the sale of its sole product, the Invisalign System, while the denial of the injunction does not harm Ormco. Finally, any harm Ormco claims to have suffered would be sufficiently compensated by money damage. For these reasons, we strongly believe that Ormco’s motion for a permanent injunction should be denied and we will vigorously oppose the motion. In the unlikely event that the Court grants a permanent injunction, we would immediately appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and seek to stay the injunction.

Ormco Patent Litigation Background Previously Disclosed:
Align has had ongoing patent litigation with Ormco, since 2003 when Ormco sued Align for patent infringement and Align won a sweeping summary judgment. Ormco appealed that decision and in August 2007 the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that 86 of Ormco’s 92 claims (related to 6,616,432, '243, '861 and '444 patents) were invalid and not infringed by Align. Ormco pursued the six remaining claims, which relate generally to a process of gathering and organizing tooth data, in the lawsuit against Align in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.





Posted by OrthoWorks at 11:35 AM
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Orthoworks Dental Group Receives 2009 Best of San Bruno Award

Orthoworks Orthodontic Group Receives 2009 Best of San Bruno Award

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- Orthoworks Orthodontic Group has been selected for the 2009 Best of San Bruno Award in the Orthodontists and Invisalign category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@us-ca.org
URL: http://www.us-ca.org

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