Earned Placement: OrthoSelect Dibs AI

Two practitioners discuss how indirect bonding with Dibs AI has made practice more predictable and profitable

Dr. Laura Bonner

Dr. David Caggiano

From the beginning, traditional indirect bonding (IDB) as a replacement for direct bonding faced challenges. Early attempts to digitize were difficult, including ineffective or complicated software and inaccurate bracket placement. Yet, recent digital advancements, including artificial intelligence, improved 3D printing and even better print resins have radically changed IDB. Digital IDB today appears to have finally matured into a simpler, more practical and powerful tool for saving time and improving overall case outcomes. OrthoSelect, which has spent eight years perfecting digital IDB software and 3D-printed transfer trays, recently launched Dibs AI, an integrated software platform that brings IDB to a new level of ease and accuracy. To gain a better perspective on how digital IDB can change the way orthodontists practice, we spoke with two doctors who use Dibs AI: Dr. Laura Bonner (Bonner Orthodontics, Rogers, Arkansas) and Dr. David Caggiano (Caggiano Orthodontics, Parsippany, New Jersey).

Tell us a little bit about you and your practice.

Bonner: I was born and raised in Colorado and attended dental school at the University of Colorado, with my orthodontic residency at the University of Iowa. After that, I opened my practice in 2015.

Caggiano: I’ve been practicing orthodontics since 2008. In college, I received a master’s in biomedical engineering, so I have a good background to assimilate technology into my practice.

How long have you been doing indirect bonding (IDB)?

Bonner: I was introduced to IDB as a technique in residency and have indirectly bonded ever since.

Caggiano: I’ve been doing IDB since 2009.

What other IDB systems have you used other than OrthoSelect’s Dibs AI? How does your current experience differ?

Bonner: I’ve used traditional IDB [with plaster models] in the past. Once I incorporated intraoral scanning into my practice, I immediately started researching for digital versions of indirect bonding. Dibs AI kept coming up as an outstanding system, and OrthoSelect as an outstanding company, and the reviews I read online have matched my experience.

Caggiano: I’ve tried almost every IDB system. The great part about the Dibs AI platform is its in-house option—case setups and printing are all done by my staff. Sliding brackets under the gingiva is a great unique feature, too.

What has been your general experience using IDB?

Bonner: Like many doctors, I found traditional IDB somewhat laborious. After I learned the ropes, though, Dibs AI software became intuitive, with individual display settings for moving brackets and customizable to how I like “seeing” bracket placement. The simulated outcome is a powerful diagnostic tool and is accurate to what I achieve clinically. Trays are very consistently excellent quality. They hold our brackets in place perfectly—not too tight, not too loose! It’s easy to determine that the tray is seated properly on the teeth during bonding.

Caggiano: There is a difference between Dibs AI and traditional IDB. Most doctors think of IDB with transfer trays, braces and custom pads. The disadvantage is you’re adhering multiple layers of glue, which is not as strong and lends to error and debonds. With Dibs AI, there is no glue on the pad of the brace—it’s similar to direct bonding, but using the transfer tray to place the brackets. There is no adjusting the brace; they just go on, are light-cured and lead to a strong bond.

How much of a learning curve was there when implementing IDB in your practice?

Bonner: My team was instrumental in shortening the learning curve. They are disciplined in the prep of teeth and trays. That’s imperative for success with any IDB system.

Caggiano: Virtually zero learning curve—placing the braces on with IDB is much easier clinically than direct bonding. There is a small curve when looking at the position of the braces on a computer, as opposed to in the mouth, but you learn quickly.