SAN JOSE, Calif., April 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Align Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALGN) today announced it is extending the Invisalign product family with Invisalign First clear aligners, designed with features specifically for younger patients with early mixed dentition (with a mixture of primary/baby and permanent teeth). Phase 1 treatment is early interceptive orthodontic treatment for young patients, traditionally done through arch expanders, or partial metal braces, before all permanent teeth have erupted - typically at ages 6 through 10 years. Invisalign First clear aligners are designed specifically to address a broad range of younger patients' malocclusions, including shorter clinical crowns, management of erupting dentition, and predictable dental arch expansion.

Align Technology is extending the Invisalign product family with Invisalign First clear aligners, designed with features specifically for younger patients with early mixed dentition (with a mixture of primary/baby and permanent teeth).

"Early interceptive orthodontic treatment of children aims to prevent more severe problems or alignment issues that could get worse as they grow, while at the same time providing a foundation for permanent teeth to begin to erupt," said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align Technology vice president of global clinical. "Younger patients have smaller teeth with shorter crowns and anatomical differences that require specific features for Phase 1 treatment. Invisalign First is the first clear aligner product designed with software driven features specifically for younger patients."

As a new offering within the Invisalign system, Invisalign First treatment includes the same proven technology, comfort, and convenience, making it possible for doctors to deliver the outcomes Invisalign providers and patients have come to expect and great experiences using Invisalign clear aligners for everyone in their practice, from adults, to teens, and now to younger patients. Invisalign First clear aligners expand on key Invisalign innovations and have been specifically designed for growing patients with early mixed dentition with new and unique features and functionality including:

• The ability to use clear aligners to treat a broad range of malocclusions for Phase 1 early interceptive orthodontic treatment;
• SmartForce^® features such as optimized attachments that have been designed for younger patients with shorter tooth crowns allowing for improved predictability of tooth movements needed for developing the arch form;
• The application of SmartStage^® technology, which maximizes treatment efficiency by producing the contacts and forces that support the tooth movement needed for arch form development specific to Phase 1 staging patterns;
• SmartTrack^® aligner material, designed to fit comfortably while applying gentle, constant force to the teeth; and,
• Improved and expanded Eruption Compensation features that makes it possible to treat erupting or changing dentition.

"Phase 1 treatment makes up 20 percent of orthodontic case starts each year and we're very excited that we can now enable doctors to offer the same benefits of Invisalign treatment to younger patients in their practices," said Raphael Pascaud, Align Technology chief marketing, portfolio, and business development office and senior vice president, iTero scanner and services. "The addition of Invisalign First reflects our continued innovation and commitment to enabling great orthodontic treatment through specialists. Every patient deserves a great orthodontic treatment experience, and with the addition of Invisalign First clear aligners to our product portfolio there is now a treatment option for every age, including younger patients."

"Invisalign First clear aligners enable me to treat my younger patients in a way that is more comfortable for them and more convenient for their parents than traditional methods," said Dr. Tarek El-Bialy, an orthodontist practicing in Alberta, Canada who has used Invisalign First to treat nearly 20 Phase 1 patients as part of the Invisalign First pilot. "With no food restrictions, no change in brushing or cleaning, and less chance of emergency visits, Invisalign First treatment is a less disruptive way to treat my Phase 1 patients. We've never had a clear aligner alternative to traditional orthodontic appliances on these little patients - but now we do."

Invisalign First clear aligners have been used to treat over 600 patients to date and will be commercially available to Invisalign-trained doctors in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the EMEA region beginning July 1, 2018.

Separately, Align also made two other announcements today. Please see press releases entitled, "Align Technology Expands Invisalign Product Portfolio with New Options and Greater Flexibility to Treat a Broader Range of Patients" and "Align Technology Extends Invisalign G5 Precision Bite Ramps to Vivera Retainers".

About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign^® system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, and iTero^® intraoral scanners and services. Align's products help dental professionals achieve the clinical results they expect and deliver effective, cutting-edge dental options to their patients. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.

For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign provider in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com.

Align Technology
Shirley Stacy
(408) 470-1150
sstacy@aligntech.com

Ethos Communication
Shannon Mangum Henderson
(678) 261-7803
align@ethoscommunication.com 

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/c2c21964-12a0-4d7f-9004-78c069ebd409

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