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Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the InvisalignTM system of clear aligners, iTero intraoral scanners, and exocad CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry, recently announced that the Invisalign Moderate package will be launched in the UK and Ireland in 2023. Dentists can consider it as an option for patients for whom the Invisalign Comprehensive package is more than is clinically required.

The Invisalign Moderate package is a maximum 20-stage clear aligner treatment option within the Invisalign system product portfolio, designed for dentists to treat mild-to-moderate indications, such as crowding and spacing, anterior posterior issues, and vertical discrepancies. The Invisalign Moderate package includes the three key elements that power the Invisalign system: SmartStage technology to programme each tooth movement in a certain sequence at the right time to achieve greater outcomes and treatment predictability, SmartTrack material, Align's own patented aligner material that provides gentle, more constant forces to improve control of tooth movements, and SmartForce features, attachments and features designed into the aligners deliver the precise forces when needed to achieve more predictable tooth movements. The Invisalign Moderate package also includes customisable options such as compliance indicators, precision cuts, bite ramps, and interproximal reduction (IPR) such as the Invisalign Comprehensive package, only with fewer stages, as the treatment can be completed in five to 12 months on average [average treatment time; data on file].

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Markus Sebastian, executive vice president and managing director EMEA at Align Technology commented: ‘Mild-to-moderate malocclusions are among the most prevalent in the general population. Thanks to the Invisalign Moderate package, Invisalign trained dentists will be able to offer more treatment options to their patients. It provides greater flexibility to help tailor treatment based on the unique needs of their patients.'

Lee Taylor, vice president marketing EMEA at Align said: ‘The addition of the Invisalign Moderate package can benefit patients who were under the impression that they were not eligible for an Invisalign treatment. It is an essential part of the Invisalign portfolio between Invisalign Lite and Invisalign Comprehensive.'

Invisalign Moderate was launched as a pilot programme in 2020. Dr Sinem Ceylanoğlu who participated in the pilot commented: ‘I have been using the Invisalign Moderate package for two years and it works very well with patients. In some restorative cases for adults that require a relatively short treatment of 16-18 to 20 aligners, this is a very good option to get patients engaged and compliant. Teens are also good candidates for the Invisalign Moderate package: they feel motivated by the shorter duration of the treatment and stick to it more easily'.

Research Award Programme

Another key announcement is the opening of the Align Technology 2023 Research Award Programme to support clinical and scientific dental research in universities across the globe - including those in the UK and Ireland. In 2023, up to £250,000 ($300,000) will be awarded globally to university faculties for scientific and technological research initiatives to advance patient care in the fields of orthodontics and dentistry. Align Technology's Research Award Programme has funded approximately £2,230,681 ($2.7 million) in research since its inception in 2010.

Four one-year awards of up to £20,657 (US$25,000) are available for dental research across the EMEA region including the UK and Ireland. Eligible applicants for dental research awards include full-time and part-time faculty involved in dental or scientific research at universities where Invisalign treatment or the iTero scanner is available. All applications are reviewed by an independent academic committee that forwards its recommendations to Align for final selection. Consideration will be given to first-time applications from a university programme. Programme details, instructions, and application forms for prospective applicants can be found at https://learn.invisalign.com/research-awards-landing-page. Research proposals and completed applications must be received by 5 pm Pacific Time on 3 March 2023. Award recipients will be notified by 5 June 2023.

For more information about the Invisalign system, visit www.invisalign.co.uk. For more information about the iTero digital scanning system, visit www.itero.com. For more information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners visit www.exocad.com.