Align Technology has reached agreement with a further four dental schools to join its orthodontic training programme, bringing the number at which it teaches to seven. The Invisalign University Programme has been deemed an integral part of the course for postgraduate dentists as they train to be orthodontists, which recognises that aligner treatments are now accepted as a mainstream orthodontic treatment.

Since its inception in 2013 the programme has been run at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup, Kent, the Countess of Chester Hospital and Dublin Dental Hospital. These early adopters realised the advantage to train their orthodontic students in aligner techniques before they qualify as Specialists to ensure graduates are au fait with the latest techniques they are likely to be asked about in practice. The expanded programme is now also to be offered at the universities of Leeds, Cardiff, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Each university programme gives up to 20 orthodontic students in every intake the opportunity to undergo training from experienced orthodontic specialists who are skilled in the use of the Invisalign orthodontic appliance and can share both theoretical and practical expertise. Tutors include Dr Graham Gardner who has completed over 650 Invisalign cases and sessions are complemented by practical sessions from Align's Clinical Advisors.

The Invisalign University Training Programme starts with an introduction to the Invisalign Doctor Site; treatment options and treatment selection; record submission; the use of the ClinCheck software and aligner delivery; and monitoring and finishing. Each university is provided with Invisalign materials and access to the Clincheck software programme.

An authorised member of the faculty of universities interested in adding Invisalign to its orthodontic training curriculum is requested to eu-universities@aligntech for more information.