Align Technology Introduces Innovations to Enhance Digital Dental Practice Transformation

Align Technology, a global medical device company known for its Invisalign clear aligners, iTero intraoral scanners, and digital orthodontics solutions, has unveiled new software innovations to expedite the transformation of digital dental practices.

The Align Oral Health Suite

The Align Oral Health Suite is a user-friendly digital interface designed to elevate dental consultations and increase treatment acceptance. It offers a contemporary approach to dental exams, featuring an innovative clinical framework. This empowers dentists and clinic staff to conduct comprehensive oral health assessments, utilising patient-friendly terminology and providing an engaging patient-centric experience.

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Accessible on the iTero Element Plus Series, the Align Oral Health Suite covers a wide range of dental health conditions, helping patients better comprehend their oral health. Dentists can create and share customised oral health reports that capture treatment recommendations discussed during consultations. The suite integrates iTero diagnostic aids and visualisation tools, enhancing the patient experience and diagnostic accuracy.

Dr. Lovedeep Randhawa, a general dentist who participated in the limited market release of the Align Oral Health Suite, stated, “This new framework streamlines and elevates the oral health consultation with the patient in a very efficient and user-friendly way. My team has found patients are responding better during consultations, as we are able to provide a highly visual, patient-centric experience that helps them understand their oral health and builds trust in diagnosis.”

Streamlining X-Ray Assessments and Patient Communication

Align Technology has also introduced X-Ray Insights technology, aimed at simplifying x-ray assessments, enhancing patient communication, and improving the digital treatment experience. This AI-driven oral health assessment tool aids in data analysis, doctor-patient conversations, evaluation of treatment options, and shared decision-making regarding oral health conditions and dental treatments.

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Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align Technology Senior Vice President, Global Clinical, highlighted that X-Ray Insights, powered by AI algorithms, evaluates dental radiographic images for caries, calculus, periapical radiolucencies, and bone loss. This tool allows dentists to identify and visualise these conditions chairside, enhancing patient communication and increasing dental treatment acceptance.

iTero-exocad Connector

Align Technology has also introduced the iTero-exocad Connector, which streamlines case communication between doctors and labs. This innovation integrates iTero intraoral camera and near-infrared images (NIRI) within the exocad DentalCAD 3.1 Rijeka software. This integration enables dental professionals to visualize both the internal and external structure of teeth and share case-related files with their lab, ultimately driving consistent outcomes and increasing productivity.

Dr. Jan Einfeldt, a general dentist at Staplehurst Dental Practice, Kent, who participated in the limited market release, expressed, “With more information, such as intraoral camera images and iTero NIRI images, my dental technician can design restorations with more efficiency, and we can reduce remakes, ultimately providing a better experience for my patients.”

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Align’s Commitment to Digital Practice Transformation

These innovations underscore Align Technology’s commitment to accelerating digital practice transformation through its Align Digital Platform. The Align Oral Health Suite aims to provide patients with a full digital experience from the first visit, engaging them in their oral health journey, while the iTero-exocad Connector streamlines communication between doctors and labs.

Both the Align Oral Health Suite and the iTero-exocad Connector are expected to be commercially available in 2023. For market availability, individuals are advised to contact their local Align marketing representative.