From Swords to New Orleans to learn new Invisalign techniques

May 13, 2014
|
Posted By: Stephen Murray

So once the American Association of Orthodontists' conference (AAO 2014) got underway in New Orleans, we were presented with a great opportunity - to meet the area's top Invisalign operator, Dr Gotsegen. The Swords Ortho team and another Irish orthodontist (who's also a member of the Smile Revolution specialist group) met up with the local Invisalign team who were also at the AAO at their own exhibition stand and we headed out to Dr Gotsegen's practice.

Swords Orthodontics rendezvous at the Invisalign exhibition at the AAO 2014 in New OrleansAAO 2014 New Orleans had a huge Invisalign exhibit, where Swords Orthodontics met up with another Smile Revolution orthodontist

Although Swords Ortho has been using Invisalign to straighten smiles since 2008, we're still keen to learn new techniques and applications for the system - which is one of the reasons we formed the Smile Revolution group - and this was a super chance to learn from an experienced specialist Invisalign provider.

Team Swords Orthodontics learning new Invisalign ideas on their practice visit to Dr Gotsegen during the AAO 2014 

On the visit we met Dr Gotsegen and his team - he's a cheerful and very conscientious orthodontist leading an experienced and motivated team (which is pretty much what we have in Swords Ortho, so it's nice to see that this approach works). He gave us some great insights into a few tips and tweaks to get better results from Invisalign treatment, and I was eager to try them out!

So the most recent Invisalign patients that we have started will have these innovations added to their treatment plans - I'll let you know how we get on!

Related Blog Posts
July 6, 2026
Orthodontic Confessions: July 2026

I had a patient in today who lost his brace. I asked him what happened.

“I took my brace out and tucked it into the waistband of my football shorts”

Me: “…and then you played a game of football?”

He: “No, I ate a packet of biscuits”

And when he’d finished the pack of biscuits he went to put the brace back in, but it wasn’t there any more.”

I’m not a nutritionist, so I can’t comment with any authority about the merits of eating a pack of biscuits between meals, but if you have a brace that you’re meant to wear then take care of it.

In practical terms, for ...

June 15, 2026
Charging extra to write a letter - we don't

A while ago, I had to cancel a holiday to help a relative with some medical appointments. I notified the airline, and although I had the cheapest version of my ticket and it was not refundable the people I spoke to suggested I ask the refunds department and if they didn’t refund then go to customer care. My general advice with sudden changes to flight arrangements is always call the company rather than try to work it out through a website.

It remains to be seen if I can get a refund, but my travel insurance does have a feature that allows me to make a ...

June 14, 2026
Farewell to The Betsy

A few days ago, I heard that The Betsy in Swords closed suddenly. I was sorry to hear this. It was just across Swords Main Street from the practice and it was a location for many Swords Orthodontics lunches for birthdays and maternity leaves and even a Christmas party.