In this episode, sponsored by Ormco, Orthodontic Products Chief Editor Alison Werner takes a deep dive into the company’s Damon Ultima System, with Michael Bicknell, DDS, MS, an orthodontist in private practice in Illinois. Bicknell, who was part of the team of clinicians who validated the system before its roll out in 2021, has since transitioned his practice into a full-Ultima practice, giving him a keen understanding of the bracket system’s mechanics and how it can impact treatment. 

As a frequent lecturer, Bicknell talks about the evolution of brackets and how the biggest challenge has always been an issue of geometry. With the Damon Ultima System, Bicknell sees a pre-manufactured bracket that is able to apply forces in three dimensions that are predictable and exact, addressing that issue of geometry. 

Bicknell is quick to point out that Ultima isn’t an upgrade of a previous version of Damon passive self-ligating brackets. As he says, “What Ormco did is they went back to the drawing board, and they tried to get their engineers and people in the same room to develop a system of brackets and wires that are engineered to work together from the ground up to deliver a certain expectation.” And that expectation was to create a “pure system that would put the teeth where they want to go in about a year, but also have a passive system.” Damon Ultima was designed so that the brackets and wires talk to each other and express exactly what the orthodontist wants, says Bicknell. He further explains that this system eliminates the times that you, as the orthodontist, aren’t moving teeth. That translates into fewer visits and shorter treatment time.

In this episode, Bicknell shares how the Ultima system has impacted his cases and finishes, practice productivity, and how it allows his team to feel like experts. What’s more, he talks about how this has translated into improved job satisfaction for his staff at a time with many practices are facing staffing shortages. 

Bicknell, who has been practicing for 20 years, talks about how he is so much more excited about orthodontics now than he has ever been. For him, the juxtaposition of enhanced technology and manufacturing capabilities are allowing more exciting products to come to market. As he says, “If we can invent something, but we can’t make it, what’s the point?” What’s more, he points out that products and technology have evolved so that the treatment pathway is not only a straighter line, but a shorter one as well. 

In addition to sharing his experience with Damon Ultima System, Bicknell shares his experience building his two-office practice west of Chicago. He talks about the differences between building a practice from the ground up and acquiring an established practice. And finally, he shares what excites him about the future of orthodontics. OP