Very Clinical: Invisalign Hype vs. Reality with Dr. Craig Harder

9 snips

Aug 26, 2025

Dive into the thrilling debate over Invisalign's value as Dr. Craig Harder challenges the myth of its worth for dentists, particularly for low-volume providers. Kevin, the high-volume advocate, counters by highlighting Invisalign's powerful marketing advantages. They also compare user experiences between different clear aligner companies. Plus, discover essential insights on using Vivera retainers post-therapy and a humorous take on podcasting tech! It's a lively exchange packed with dental wisdom and playful banter.

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INSIGHT

High Cost Cuts Dentist Margin

Invisalign often consumes a large portion of the treatment fee, which reduces dentist margin for low-volume providers.
This cost structure makes Invisalign less attractive as a pure value play for many general dentists.

ANECDOTE

High-Volume Provider Benefits

Kevin describes being a high-volume provider who gets 10–15% discounts and lower fees from Invisalign as his status increases.
He also values Invisalign because their marketing drives patients to his practice, reducing his need to find cases organically.

INSIGHT

Invisalign As A Marketing Engine

Kevin argues Invisalign functions primarily as a massive marketing company that elevates the brand to consumer awareness.
That national advertising funnels patients into practices in a way individual dentists cannot replicate.

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In this "throwback" episode recorded live at Voices of Dentistry 2023, hosts Kevin and Zach are joined by guest Dr. Craig Harder to debate and discuss dental myths and tips. The main topic of conversation is the dental myth that Invisalign is a great value for dentists.

Craig argues that Invisalign is not a good value because it eats up a significant portion of the fee, especially for dentists who don't do a high volume of cases and therefore don't qualify for discounts. Kevin, a high-volume provider, counters that the value of Invisalign is not just in the cost per case but in its powerful marketing engine. He explains that Invisalign's massive ad campaigns drive patients directly to dentists' offices, a level of promotion that individual practices could never achieve. The conversation also touches on the user experience of other clear aligner companies versus Invisalign, with Kevin stating he finds the Invisalign user interface to be far superior.

Craig's tip: Always use Vivera retainers after aligner therapy!

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