Highlights

  • ALGN unveils dual campaigns to promote Invisalign treatment for children and teens.
  • This Company emphasizes early intervention orthodontics starting as young as age.
  • Align Technology expands product offerings with occlusal blocks and palatal expander system.

Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN), a global medical device manufacturer specializing in digital orthodontics, has launched two coordinated campaigns aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of orthodontic solutions for children and teenagers. The new initiatives “Invisalign for Kids” targeting consumers and “Growing Patients” targeting dental professionals—are designed to present the company's treatment offerings for younger patients across various stages of dental development.

The consumer-facing campaign, “Invisalign for Kids,” is aimed at educating parents on orthodontic treatment options for children as young as six years old. It introduces the idea that early intervention using the Invisalign System can help guide jaw and tooth development during key growth periods. The campaign covers various treatment tools including the Invisalign Palatal Expander System, Invisalign First™, and the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement and occlusal blocks. The company also highlights the use of Invisalign Virtual Care, which allows remote monitoring of patient progress.

On the professional side, the “Growing Patients” campaign focuses on providing orthodontists with updates and clinical resources to treat children and teens using Invisalign products. This includes long-standing tools like Invisalign First™ as well as newer innovations such as the Palatal Expander System and the mandibular advancement solution with occlusal blocks (MAOB). These offerings are intended to address a broad range of orthodontic challenges, from early dental arch development to jaw alignment.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Align’s campaigns seek to raise awareness of Phase 1 treatment (typically ages 6–10), which aims to guide facial and jaw development and reduce the need for more invasive procedures later. Phase 2 treatment occurs once permanent teeth are in place and focuses on achieving a proper bite and dental alignment.

Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align’s executive vice president and chief clinical officer, stated that growing patients require a dual approach to treatment—addressing both tooth alignment and skeletal development. She explained that the company's extended portfolio allows clinicians to manage various case types, including complex orthodontic conditions in young patients.

The campaigns are a continuation of Align’s strategy to expand its presence in the youth segment of the orthodontic market. According to Align, more than 20 million patients worldwide have been treated with Invisalign products to date, and its growing patient portfolio has evolved with milestones across the past 17 years.

Timeline of Invisalign Innovations for Younger Patients:

  • 2008: Launch of Invisalign Teen, offering compliance indicators and features for permanent tooth eruption.
  • 2017: Introduction of the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement for simultaneous jaw and teeth alignment.
  • 2018: Debut of Invisalign First™, targeting mixed-dentition cases with shorter crowns and erupting teeth.
  • 2023: Invisalign Palatal Expander System becomes the company’s first 3D-printed orthodontic device for skeletal expansion.
  • 2025: Invisalign System with mandibular advancement and occlusal blocks released for improved jaw positioning and treatment efficiency.

Michael Smith, vice president of product management, noted that the company continues to refine its product suite based on data collected over nearly three decades. With more than 28 years of anonymized clinical insights from 20 million cases, the company is focusing its efforts on aligning technology solutions to the evolving needs of dental professionals treating children and adolescents.