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Jan 22, 2004
University of Illinois at Chicago Integrates Invisalign® Into Dental School Curriculum
University of Illinois at Chicago Integrates Invisalign® Into Dental School Curriculum
This spring, undergraduate dental students in the sophomore class completed an Invisalign certification course at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Students will now be allowed to treat anterior tooth movement cases and certain full cases under the supervision of certified orthodontic residents and faculty members.
"The growth of Invisalign as a treatment modality and its adoption by Chicago-area doctors convinced us that it was time to address this type of treatment in our pre-doctoral orthodontic curriculum," said Dr. Carla Evans, professor and head of the Department of Orthodontics at UIC. "Adding Invisalign to our program allows students to learn and practice Invisalign techniques in a structured environment where they can benefit from the supervision of orthodontic faculty."
Adding Invisalign to the undergraduate program more fully integrates the treatment modality into the dental school's program. In May and June of this year, the dental class of 2006 and orthodontic residents and faculty members completed separate Invisalign certification courses held at UIC. The specialty course for residents and faculty was designed to review detailed hands-on practical procedures. This fall, the dental class of 2005 will also be required to complete Invisalign certification.
"Integrating Invisalign into undergraduate dental and postgraduate course curricula is one of the most important goals of our clinical education initiative," said Dr. Lou Shuman, Vice President of Clinical Education at Align. "We are excited to be working with UIC faculty and students to implement a comprehensive Invisalign program and to help prepare UIC graduates to provide their patients with the benefits of Invisalign treatment."
About University of Chicago at Illinois' Department of Orthodontics
The Department of Orthodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago was founded in 1929 with the goal of offering graduate study in orthodontics. Since its inception it has been engaged in research, teaching and patient care making the department one of the leading orthodontic programs in the country and internationally. UIC graduates have contributed greatly to the development of dentistry's oldest specialty.
UIC's Department of Orthodontics is home to a modern orthodontic clinic and clinical laboratory; a computer, data-processing, and microscopy laboratory; the Brodie Library; an orthodontic technique laboratory for photography, appliance construction and plaster work; seminar room; Ricketts Research and Conference Facility; faculty offices; the editorial office of the World Journal of Orthodontics; headquarters for ESCO, the Electronic Study Club for Orthodontics; the Skeletal Tissue Engineering Laboratory; and the Brodie Laboratory for Craniofacial Genetics.
One of the Department's primary goals is to become one of the leading centers for patient care and technology, with full computerization of its entire clinical enterprise (diagnosis and treatment planning, records, clinic management system, etc.). The Department's policy is to prepare the graduates to deliver superior patient care utilizing the latest technology in biology, biomaterials, biomechanics, genetics, computers, and more. The Department also implements improvements to the undergraduate program by introducing new concepts and explaining changes that will influence the future of orthodontics.
About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology designs, manufactures and markets Invisalign, a proprietary method for treating malocclusion, or the misalignment of teeth. Invisalign corrects malocclusion using a series of clear, nearly invisible, removable appliances that gently move teeth to a desired final position. Because it does not rely on the use of metal or ceramic brackets and wires, Invisalign significantly reduces the aesthetic and other limitations associated with braces. Invisalign is appropriate for treating adults and older teens. Align Technology was founded in March 1997 and received FDA clearance to market Invisalign in 1998.
Information on Align's clinical and continuing education events is available at www.invisaligncec.com. To learn more about Invisalign or to find a certified Invisalign doctor, please visit www.invisalign.com or call 1-800-INVISIBLE.
Contact: investor relations, Barbara Domingo of Align Technology, Inc., +1-408-470-1204, or bdomingo@aligntech.com; or press, Shannon Mangum Henderson of Ethos Communications, Inc., +1-678-417-1767, or shannon@ethoscommunication.com, for Align Technology.
SOURCE Align Technology, Inc.
07/22/2004
CONTACT: investor relations, Barbara Domingo of Align Technology, Inc., +1-408-470-1204, or bdomingo@aligntech.com; or press, Shannon Mangum Henderson of Ethos Communications, Inc., +1-678-417-1767, or shannon@ethoscommunication.com, for Align Technology
Web site: http://www.invisalign.com