TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”) (Nasdaq: ALGN) a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® System of clear aligners, iTero™ intraoral scanners, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry, today announced the award of eleven research grants to universities under the company’s thirteenth Annual Research Award Program.
“Align is committed to the advancement of the orthodontic and dental fields and we are pleased to support university research around the world, said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align senior vice president, global clinical. “We are excited to see the findings and future clinical insights about Invisalign® clear aligner treatment and its applicability for a broad range of clinical case types for patients of all ages. Continued research around all aspects of clear aligner treatment will increase awareness within the dental community about the efficacy of clear aligner treatment as compared to traditional appliances.”
The Americas research award recipients for 2023 are:
- University of Washington (Seattle, US) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Greg Huang
- University of the Pacific (San Francisco, US) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Heeyeon Suh
- University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Camila Pacheco-Pereira
- Uniderp (Campo Grande-MS, Brazil) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Paula Vanessa Peron Oltramari
The European research award recipients for 2023 are:
- UniCamillus, International Medical University (Rome, Italy) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Roberta Lione
- Mohammed Bin Rashid University (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Sabarinath Prasad
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt (Frankfurt, Germany) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Babak Sayahpour
- University of Milan (Milan, Italy) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Francesca Gaffuri
The Asia Pacific research award recipients for 2023 are:
- Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Hu Long
- School of Stomatology Wuhan University (Wuhan, China) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Sanjie Yeweng
- Mahidol University (Bangkok, Thailand) – Primary Investigator, Dr. Narudol Treethanya
“Over the years, it has been rewarding to see the evolution of research projects and the results that have advanced understanding and awareness of the various approaches for the treatment of malocclusion,” said John Morton, Align vice president, technical fellow. “Align is proud to support these research studies that have directly impacted advancements in clear aligner treatment and provided the scientific information that doctors need to interpret the efficacy of Invisalign® clear aligner treatment.”
The 2023 funded research studies will cover a wide range of topics for projects seeking to better understand treatments in orthodontics and dentistry including, but not limited to: ClinCheck® treatment planning software and cone-beam computed tomography (“CBCT”) integration; Curve of Wilson in the lower arch using aligners vs. fixed appliances; comparing the pre-treatment characteristics, demographics, efficiency & effectiveness, prevalence and extent of white-spot-lesions in adolescents treated with aligners vs. fixed appliances in an academic setting; comparing the maxillary and mandibular arch changes with aligners vs. removable palatal expansion and Schwarz appliances; evaluating the treatment outcomes with clear aligner therapy during mixed dentition in transverse and vertical dimensions; comparing the microhardness values of the resin composite attachments using different light curing protocols; three-dimensional characteristics of facial soft tissues with Angle Class II malocclusion; clinical effectiveness of virtual root and bone model system; and, orofacial and smile changes with mandibular advancement, precision bite ramps, and craniofacial changes induced by maxillary expansion.
All award applications received were first reviewed and prioritized in a blind evaluation by an independent academic committee. The final recipients were then determined by Align Technology.
About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® System, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 243 thousand doctor customers and is key to accessing Align’s 500 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 25 years, Align has helped doctors treat over 15.1 million patients with the Invisalign System and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align Digital Platform™, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.
For additional information about the Invisalign System or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com. For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com.
