 www.aligntech.com |
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About Align Technology
Align Technology, Inc. is a global medical-device company that pioneered the invisible-orthodontics market with the introduction of the Invisalign® system, a clear, removable orthodontic-treatment option for straightening teeth.
Invisalign products combine proprietary software and a series of medical-grade plastic appliances called “aligners” to move teeth in stages as determined by the treating doctor. Although treatment time varies by patient, on average a patient requires one full year of treatment—equivalent to 24 sets of aligners.
With products that address simple to complex cases and post-treatment retention, the Align product family includes:
- Invisalign Full, which is used to treat a wide range of malocclusion (misalignment of teeth)—from simple to complex cases.
- Invisalign Teen, which is used to treat younger or teen-aged patients, features include compliance indicators and Power Ridges™. Additionally, Invisalign Teen can accommodate for naturally erupting permanent teeth and address supra-eruption. Invisalign Teen became available in U.S. in July 2008.
- Invisalign Assist, which is used to treat the more simple range of malocclusion cases, includes features which leverage software and clinical protocols, such as case selection and treatment planning assistance, appointment guides, progress checking and staged shipment of aligners. Invisalign Assist became available in U.S. in October 2008.
- Invisalign Express, which uses up to 10 sets of aligners and is a lower-priced solution for simple cases, minor crowding/spacing cases, or as a precursor to restorative or cosmetic treatment.
- Vivera Retainers, which are used for post-treatment retention. Available to both Invisalign and non-Invisalign patients, new retainers are provided through a convenient subscription plan. Vivera Retainers became available in U.S. in January 2008.
Founded in 1997, Align began its first commercial sales of Invisalign to orthodontists in 1999 and soon after launched a U.S. national consumer-advertising campaign. By late 2001, Align had manufactured one million aligners. In 2002, Invisalign was made available to general dentists, and by mid-2003 dental schools began adding Invisalign to their curriculum. Today, Align Technology provides exclusive education events at more than 60 universities worldwide. In 2005, Align introduced Invisalign Express. In the same year, it achieved a manufacturing milestone of 15 million aligners.
Today, Invisalign has evolved into an increasingly mainstream treatment option. To date, Align Technology has
- trained more than 56,700 doctors
- manufactured more than 44 million unique Invisalign aligners
- started more than 1,000,000 patients in treatment
- compiled a well-defended intellectual property portfolio that includes more than 160 patents worldwide
- reached $1.5 billion in cumulative net revenues
