Four million patients and counting

16 September 2016
Volume 31 · Issue 6

Align Technology, a worldwide market leader in clear aligner treatment, has announced recently that 4m patients have now started treatment with Invisalign, the technically advanced clear aligner system. 

This is a significant accomplishment for the company and the 100,000 Invisalign trained doctors around the world, demonstrating increased global acceptance of Invisalign treatment as a preferred choice for straightening teeth.

In connection with this achievement, Align Technology is reaffirming its commitment to help provide treatment to children around the world born with cleft lip and cleft palate, and will donate $1 to Operation Smile for every public share of a photo of a person's smile on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the hashtag #4millionsmiles – for a total donation of up to $1m.*

"We are very proud to now have 4m people who have begun treatment with Invisalign clear aligners instead of metal braces,” said Joe Hogan, Align Technology president and CEO. “Reaching 4m Invisalign patients in half the time it took to reach 1m is remarkable and reflects accelerating adoption resulting from nearly 20 years of experience and significant innovation in our products and technology. We strive to provide Invisalign practices and their patients with the best treatment possible and believe every patient should have access to the most advanced treatment options for a healthy smile. To that end, we hope to inspire others to give more smiles to children in need with our continuing pledge to Operation Smile." 

Align Technology is committed to continuing innovation in its products and features and helping Invisalign providers achieve exceptional results. By combining biomechanics research, 3D software technology, cutting edge mass customisation and insights from treating 4m plus patients worldwide, Invisalign clear aligners provide a more comfortable and aesthetically appealing treatment option that addresses 50 per cent of orthodontic cases.

The 4 millionth Invisalign patient is Matthew Webb, who is in treatment with Graham Tinkler, an Invisalign professional at Bupa Dental Centre, Bank, London. To mark this major milestone for the company, Matthre will be featured in an upcoming Invisalign advertising campaign, entitled ‘One in four million’, which will follow Matthew through his Invisalign journey capturing his experiences and the transformation of his new smile.

"I have been treating patients with Invisalign clear aligners for 10 years and in that time have improved the smiles of over 2,000 patients using Invisalign clear aligners," said Graham Tinkler. “I love the Invisalign system because it makes such a difference in people’s lives, it can be tailored to suit the patient's needs, and it fits within their lifestyle. Every time the patient sees you they are a bit happier. Patients actually look forward to seeing you!”

“I really admire the less invasive approach to tooth straightening offered by Invisalign treatment and it was one of the reasons I opted for it”, said Matthew Webb. “Dr. Tinkler showed me a computer simulation of my tooth movements with Invisalign clear aligners and we discussed various scenarios. I am blown away. I can’t believe that something so thin and transparent has the capacity to move my teeth!”

#4millionsmiles

Align Technology would like to invite Invisalign patients and everyone around the world to help a child in need by participating in the ‘4million smiles’ social media campaign using the dedicated hashtag #4millionsmiles. Each post of a smile with the hashtag #4millionsmiles published on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, will be matched by Align Technology with a donation of $1 to Operation Smile for a total pledge up to $1 million*. The aim of the campaign is to light up the world with smiles and to help deliver as many as 400 healing smile operations through Operation Smile. The campaign will culminate October 7 on World Smile Day, when the #4milionsmiles messages posted from all over the world will light up an interactive Invisalign website.

*Align Technology donation pledge through March 3, 2018. To date, Align has donated US$200 thousand to Operation Smile as part of the #3millionsmiles campaign launched on March 3, 2015 and the #4millionsmiles campaign continues this pledge to Operation Smile. Facebook shares must be made public in order to trigger the donation. Restrictions apply. See the full terms and conditions at Invisalign.com.