When Did Invisalign Aligners First Become Available?

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.

Align Technology

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.

Formation

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.

Invisalign hits the market

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.

The company today

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.

Invisalign's aligners vs. traditional braces

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 process

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.

Conclusion

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.

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