ORA Dental Studio awarded Invisalign ‘Elite’ Premier Provider status for 2010

April 27, 2010 - PRLog -- Chicago, Illinois – Dr. Mladen Kralj and Dr. Goran Kralj, brothers and co-founders of ORA Dental Studio in Chicago, have been awarded status by Align Technologies Inc. the makers of Invisalign clear braces. With hundreds of Invisalign cases under their belts Drs. Kralj were awarded ‘Elite’ Premier Provider status for having achieved an extraordinary level of Invisalign case experience and competence, placing their practice in the top 1% of all Invisalign providers in the nation.

“There is a continued, strong demand for Invisalign - it represents the future of orthodontics and non-invasive cosmetic dentistry,” says Dr. Mladen Kralj. “It eliminates so many barriers to treatment, offering patients options they have not had before. Invisalign gives me an effective tool to delivering a beautiful smile to anyone -- from adults that would never consider metal braces to active teens that don't want braces interrupting their busy lives.”

Dr. Mladen Kralj was one of the first general and cosmetic dentists in Chicago to introduce Invisalign to his practice, becoming certified in 2002. He received Premier Provider status in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, placing him in the top 5% of all Invisalign certified providers each year. As 2010 ‘Elite’ Premier Providers, Drs. Kralj join a very select group of dentists – at this time there are only 20 ‘Elite’ dentists out of over 40,000 Invisalign certified providers in the United States. In addition, ORA Dental Studio is currently one of only two general/cosmetic dental practices in Chicago to have achieved this distinction.

“It's a real honor to have achieved Elite status with Align. I'm a huge proponent of this product and have offered Invisalign to many of my patients over the years -- from very simple to complex cases,” says Dr. Goran Kralj. “It has allowed me to give my patients an alternative to metal braces or more invasive procedures to improve their smiles.”

About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs, manufactures and markets Invisalign, a proprietary method for treating malocclusion, or the misalignment of teeth. Invisalign corrects malocclusion using a series of clear, nearly invisible, removable appliances that gently move teeth to a desired final position. Because it does not rely on the use of metal or ceramic brackets and wires, Invisalign significantly reduces the aesthetic and other limitations associated with braces. Invisalign is appropriate for treating adults and teens. Align Technology was founded in March 1997 and received FDA clearance to market Invisalign in 1998. Today, the Invisalign product family includes Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Assist, Invisalign Express, and Vivera Retainers. To learn more about Invisalign please visit www.invisalign.com

About ORA Dental Studio

ORA Dental Studio is Chicago’s and the nation’s first and only ‘green’ group dental practice promoting Eco-friendly Dentistry®. ORA delivers the perfect synthesis of a chic, Zen-modern environment, state-of-the-art green technology, minimally and non-invasive services, and eco-friendly protocols and products that are uncommon in traditional dental practices and unique to Chicago.

ORA Dental Studio’s ‘eco’ initiative starts with the meticulous design and construction of its dental practices that strictly followed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and GGHC (Green Guide for Health Care) protocols. Through conscientious planning ORA has created high performance ‘green’ facilities that are healthier for their patients, a more productive place to work, less costly to operate and maintain, and reduces their environmental footprint. ORA’s Wicker Park practice will be the first LEED Certified (Silver) dental practice in Chicago, and one of only a handful in the nation.

ORA Dental Studio is also a dental industry leader in the delivery of Green Healthcare, garnering numerous awards. Among them, ORA is the first dental practice in the nation to achieve the Eco Dentistry Association™ (EDA) certification at the highest level – GreenDOC™ Gold. ORA was also inducted as an EDA Charter Certified Practice, a distinction that honors practices that are innovators and leaders at the forefront of dentistry's green wave.

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Founded by Dr. Mladen Kralj, Dr. Goran Kralj, Dr. Steven Koos, and Dr. Reggie Thurston, ORA Dental Studio offers comprehensive general, cosmetic and oral surgery services such as: non-invasive laser periodontal therapy; BPA-free composite resin restorations; metal-free/lead-free porcelain restorations; laser teeth whitening; Invisalign clear braces; smile makeovers with porcelain veneers; dental implants; sedation “sleep” dentistry, and wisdom tooth extractions.

ORA Dental Studio currently has four locations in downtown Chicago’s West Loop, South Loop, Wicker Park, and Gold Coast neighborhoods. In the fall of 2010 ORA plans on opening its fifth location in the Roscoe Village neighborhood at the Green Exchange (www.greenexchange.com) the nation’s largest sustainable business community. For more information about ORA Dental Studio visit www.oradentalstudio.com.