An interview with orthodontic appliance inventor Earl O. Bergersen

What makes the Ortho-T Appliance for the adult ortho treatment so unique?
The Ortho-T technique is the superior, most effective choice of adult orthodontic treatment without braces. Ortho-T’s unique design allows permanent dentition to be guided into a perfect Class I occlusion with only one appliance worn one to two hours per day. The Ortho-T technique takes one-fifth the time of fixed treatment. The Ortho-T appliance takes approximately one hour of total chair time.

 

What benefits does the Ortho-T technique for adult treatment without braces have over other adult treatment techniques?
As previously stated, Ortho-T is worn one to two hours per day; treatment time is two to 12 months, which is approximately one-third the time of most other procedures. Ortho-T’s cost is one-fourth to one-half that of fixed treatment. Ortho-T corrects overbite, overjet, crowding, spacing and TMJ. It requires only one appliance, which is worn for both active treatment as well as retention. If relapse occurs 10 years later, the same appliance can be re-used. In addition, no interruptions or changing of appliance is needed if dental work is done during treatment. Any type of treatment — bridgework, extractions, implants — none of these affect the fit of the appliance.

How difficult is it for an orthodontist to understand and implement the Ortho-T technique?
Attending a one-day course or viewing our seminar on DVD will provide the necessary knowledge. Ortho-T is the easiest appliance to use on the market.

How many patients have been treated with the Ortho-T?
More than 3 million.

Is it true that Ortho-Tain also has an orthodontic treatment procedure for teenagers and young children?
Occlus-o-Guide is for 8- to 12-year-olds with overbite, overjet and crowding, all of which can be corrected with only two hours of daytime wear for a period of two to 10 months. Only one appliance is required for treatment. Occlus-o-Guide can be used for almost all malocclusions from ages 8 to 12. Nite-Guide is used during the eruption of the upper and lower incisors and is worn passively only while sleeping. Nite-Guide expands the arch up to 4 mm and can correct up to 7 mm of potential crowding, any overbite and overjet, open bite and pseudo Class III. Nite-Guide is an effective and easy Phase I technique.

Does the Occlus-o-Guide and Nite-Guide work similarly to the Ortho-T for adult?
Almost the same way, except there is more room for crowding at the ages of 5 to 12 because of larger posterior deciduous teeth.

Is the Nite-Guide the only early treatment device on the market that can straighten the incoming adult dentition with only nighttime wear?
Yes. The Nite-Guide allows the teeth to erupt straight. The fiber bundles develop in that position, so there is minimal or no relapse, according to research to date. Research also shows that children who wear the Nite-Guide for one hour of sleeping time will receive the same results in most cases as a full night’s wear. Research also shows 93 percent of all 5- to 7-year-olds are candidates. One practitioner can treat hundreds of patients each year.

(Source: Ortho-Tain)