Computers Help Build Real World Smiles: Insignia at Bandeen Orthodontics

Article originally published in the Battle Creek Enquirer.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “orthodontics”?  Most people hear “orthodontics” and think of braces, retainers, and teeth.  Dr. Tim Bandeen and Dr. Emily Bandeen of Bandeen Orthodontics in Battle Creek think of “smiles and computers”.  Computers are now such an integral part of care at their office that it is difficult for them to imagine treating patients any other way.   

In the fall of 2009, Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily - as they are known to their patients - started using a system called Insignia.  This innovative system is designed to give every patient a customized smile... but what does that mean?  Insignia is a CAD/CAM (computer aided design and manufacture) software package that allows the orthodontist to design smiles and allows the doctors to deliver customized care for each patient.  Bandeen Orthodontics’ pioneering use of customized computer orthodontics led to their recognition in 2010 as one of only five “Insignia Premier Provider” practices in the world.  

How does a system like Insignia work?  Information is sent from Bandeen Orthodontics to the Insignia Lab in California where they create an electronic, interactive model of the teeth.  After the model has been created, the teeth are moved in computer simulation to establish a desirable and realistic end goal.  Once the teeth are set in their desired positions in the computer, virtual braces are placed on the virtual teeth.  The virtual teeth are then moved back to their original positions with the braces still attached to reverse engineer where the braces should be placed at the start of treatment.  From this point, a computer will create customized templates to allow the doctors to transfer the braces to the teeth in the precise, pre-determined locations.  

12 months of treatment with Insignia & the Damon System

Bandeen Orthodontics additionally takes advantage of advanced capabilities of the Insignia system beyond the placement of the braces. Each individual brace is custom cut to correspond to the unique anatomy of the surface of each individual tooth down to a tenth of a degree.  All teeth have a unique curvature, and the in-and-out tip of a tooth (or torque) can greatly affect the beauty and function of a person’s smile and bite.  The wires that are used for treatment are built with the use of the computer modeling, too.  The series of wires used for treatment have slight waves and subtle bends that match the widths of each tooth as the wire curves around the set of teeth.  Typically, orthodontists have to “freehand” the adjustments during treatment, often with a lot of adjustment to compensate both for the anatomy of the teeth and to compensate for braces that were not placed well enough.  Since implementing Insignia in 2009, the doctors at Bandeen Orthodontics have noticed a significant reduction in the need to make adjustments near the end of treatment.  

While a CAD/CAM system like Insignia is providing a substantial benefit to how doctors provide orthodontic care, it’s also important to note that the benefits extend to the patients. The positive effects are seen in three different areas:  reduced time in braces, improved results, and reduction in potential discomfort during treatment.

Since starting with Insignia, Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily have noticed that the time of orthodontic treatment has significantly shortened, often by as much as 6 to 12 months.  Treatment times now seem to be about 12 to 18 months total, with the goal of 12 months for many patients.  The doctors have also noticed that the final results of orthodontic treatment have been even better, since they started with Insignia.  Most people have 28 permanent teeth, not counting wisdom teeth.  Solving 28 complex three dimensional math problems is a simple step for a computer, but a daunting task for the human mind to perform accurately and consistently.  Dr. Tim Bandeen said, “I like to think that I am talented at placing braces well, but the consistency and precision provided by Insignia allows us to take our treatment to the next level of excellence for our patients.”  Concern about the potential discomfort of orthodontic treatment is one reason why patients may be hesitant to seek care. Fortunately, Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily have found that patients tend not to have as many adjustment appointments with the Insignia system, and therefore there are fewer chances for discomfort. 

Despite all of the advances in technology, the doctors and staff at Bandeen Orthodontics realize that there is a person attached to each smile.  In the end, it is the interaction between the doctors and the patients - not the process - which makes the difference.  Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily believe in providing treatment based on solid principles for patient-based care.  Patients are typically not put through multiple phases of treatment unless it is deemed to be effective and necessary to the desired overall results.   Advances in treatment philosophy and techniques have shown that one phase of treatment is often all that is needed, and it can be done with more streamlined means than in the past.  There have been significant improvements in the time required, in results achieved, and in patient comfort since the days of palatal expanders.  Those improvements allow offices like Bandeen Orthodontics to provide care that is constantly aiming for perfection.

Bandeen Orthodontics has been part of Battle Creek since 1987, and is currently led by Dr. Tim Bandeen and Dr. Emily Bandeen. The doctors and staff at Bandeen Orthodontics are thrilled to be on the cutting edge of orthodontic care, striving to continually improve treatment results, and making the process of getting a great smile more pleasant and enjoyable for patients.  To learn more about care at Bandeen Orthodontics, please visit the website at BandeenOrthodontics.com or call (269) 963-4118 to schedule an appointment.