It is nearly impossible not to have heard about Invisalign, the clear braces substitute that looks like an unassuming mouth guard. Many have wondered where these innovative aligners came from and how they became so popular in the first place. This success did not come overnight. It took years of planning and development before the company sold aligners to its first customer.
First sold to consumers at the turn of the millennium, Invisalign is currently manufactured by Align Technology. Boosted by Invisalign's success, Align Technology currently has annual revenues surpassing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Founders Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth formed Align Technology in 1997 for the purpose of selling a viable alternative to braces. Chishti himself came up with the idea through his own experiences with retainers. He believed that, rather than going through all the trouble of braces and then moving to a retainer, he could simply sell a series of aligners that gradually moved teeth into their idyllic places. With this vision, Chishti and Wirth formed partnerships with stakeholders in the California Bay Area, where so many startups have found vital support over the years. Soon enough, the two had secured enough funding to bring Invisalign's concept to the consumer.
A year after founding Align Technology, the federal Food and Drug Administration approved Invisalign's clear aligners for consumer use. Within the first two years of going public, the company had sold more than $130 million worldwide. It became so popular that 75% of North American orthodontists received training for administering clear aligners by 2001. Align Technology’s 2011 acquisition of Cadet System, Inc. gave the company some of the highest-quality 3D imaging scanners available in order to better create their aligners.
Today, Align Technology is a thriving multinational business, with over $1 billion in sales in 2016. Invisalign is at the center of this success, having treated over 6 million patients globally.
Unlike bulky and noticeable braces, Invisalign's devices readjust a patient’s teeth into their ideal positions through a series of progressive aligners. Made with a flexible plastic, Invisalign's aligners are thin, clear and removable.
The Invisalign process begins via consultation with a doctor. Here, a medical professional will examine teeth and give an overview of the entire process. After this appointment, the doctor will devise a personalized plan of action. Aligners are then molded and shipped to either the doctor or patient. Periodically, aligners are progressively changed out for slightly different ones. Slowly but surely, teeth are moved into the correct positions. New aligners take some time to get used to, but the end result is a reinvigorated smile and a healthy mouth.
From humble beginnings with operations based out of a garage to the multinational behemoth of today, Invisalign has transformed the smiles of millions of global customers. To find out how Invisalign's products can help create the optimal realignment for your teeth, schedule an appointment with a dentist or an orthodontist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.texasstarsmiles.com or call Texas Star Smiles & Fastbraces at (254) 237-1342 for an appointment in our Killeen office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Implant dentists provide a teeth replacement option that closely resembles natural teeth. Whether a patient is missing one, many, or all of their teeth, dental implants look and function similarly to natural teeth with the added benefit of replacing tooth roots and stimulating the jawbone. This jawbone stimulation is a benefit other teeth replacement options…
A person who struggles with persistent bad breath can be affected in many ways. The condition can indicate an illness, a malodorous mouth can severely hamper interactions with family, friends, or business associates, and the sufferer may have a nasty taste in their mouth. Most people agree that bad breath is no joke, but what…
Missing teeth can severely affect an individual's self-esteem. Fortunately, an implant dentist can help restore a patient's smile with the use of dental implants. As one of the most successful treatments for missing teeth, a dental implant can offer numerous advantages over other tooth replacement options. Dental implants can fill the gaps in a person's…
An implant dentist can provide a natural-looking and durable alternative to traditional tooth-replacement methods with dental implant restorations. This article covers some of the common tooth restoration options available from an implant dentist.An implant restoration usually consists of three parts: the implant, the abutment, and the dental crown. The implant is surgically inserted into the…