Back in 1999, orthodontic treatment had a breakthrough that has since quite literally changed the face of orthodontics to this day. Often imitated, never duplicated, Invisalign® aligners were the first of their kind – a trailblazer in the field of orthodontics, creating clear aligners that fit over the teeth, moving them gently just as traditional wire and bracket braces do.
While wire and bracket braces are still the most popular means of orthodontic treatment, Invisalign® currently holds a big chunk of the orthodontics market, and it shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, Invisalign® has become known as quite the innovator when it comes to not just oral health and orthodontics, but technology, too.
Since its inception, Invisalign® has created SmartTrack and SmartForce technologies for their aligners. They have also designed the iTero intraoral scanning system, which can record 3D imagery, near-infrared light imagery, and intraoral color. This helps to create more accurate dental records, which can help patients see how their treatment results will look once they have completed their Invisalign® treatment. This particular piece of software is called the Invisalign® Outcome Simulator Pro.
It makes sense, too. Invisalign® was created in Silicon Valley, arguably the tech capital of the world.
Today, Invisalign® has paired with other tech companies such as the popular young-adult digital game Roblox, to create virtual dental offices and gear to help introduce children and ease their fears of orthodontic treatment.
In addition to that collaboration, Invisalign® continues to innovate, with their grant and interest in new research that may someday create 3D printed oral devices for infants born with cleft palates.
Another fascinating breakthrough by Invisalign® is their use of artificial intelligence or AI to help improve user experience for orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign® hopes to one day use AI and machine learning to help ease the workload of their specialists and orthodontists, and patients too. Emerging technology could one day not only lessen the need for appointments at the orthodontist, but also directly notify patients that it’s time to change out their aligner for the next in the series.
For now, the technology that Invisalign® already utilizes can shave up to five months off your orthodontic treatment, and even reduce your need for office visits by up to 30 percent (though Dr. Abelar loves to see your smiling face!). If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign®, please contact Dr. Abelar’s office today!
