Invisalign Takes the Metal and Wires out of Braces:

Finally, Adults Wanting Straight Teeth Have Something to Smile About

Sunnyvale, Calif. According to Align Technology, Inc., makers of the breakthrough Invisalign System, 50% of adult ages 25 to 49 (or 50 million) "wish their teeth were straighter," yet only .4% of adults seek treatment annually. The main reason? Aesthetics. Adults don't like wearing the mouth full of metal look. And now with Invisalign®, they don't have to. A Revolutionary Breakthrough Applying cutting-edge 3D computer graphics technology, the Invisalign System™ straightens teeth using a series of clear, plastic, nearly invisible "aligners" that correct teeth without the wires and brackets of traditional braces. "Just as contact lenses eliminated the need for unsightly spectacles sixty years ago - today, Invisalign eliminates the need for unsightly metal and wires and will forever change how people think about straightening their teeth," says Kelsey Wirth, President of Align Technology, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. The Invisalign System has already gotten the attention of nearly half the orthodontists nationwide who are certified to use the system. And it's no wonder that patients are straightening their teeth the wireless way.

Now adults can have the smile they always wanted without the braces they've always dreaded. It's a completely new, virtually invisible way of straightening teeth that adults prefer because Invisalign is:

• Nearly Invisible - so no one knows when you are straightening your teeth.
• More Comfortable - without the wires and brackets of traditional braces there is less abrasion in the mouth.
• Removable - so you can still eat what you want.
• More Hygienic - teeth can be easily brushed and flossed which helps promote healthy teeth and prevent gum disease.
• More Convenient - because a series of "aligners" are worn to straighten teeth instead of traditional metal braces there are less doctor visits because no "adjustments" are needed.

How the Invisalign System Works:

1. The patient meets with an Invisalign-certified orthodontist who takes an impression and x-rays of the patient's teeth and sends them to the Align Technology lab.

2. At Align's lab, a mold is poured of the patient's teeth and digitized. Align uses its proprietary computer software to generate a start-to-finish 3-D movie that shows the movements of the patient's teeth from the current position through the final desired position in a series of images.

3. The orthodontist reviews and approves the 3-D movie and from these images, Align Technology produces a series of clear, plastic "aligners".

4. The patient wears each stage of "aligners" (usually consisting of a pair, one on the upper teeth and one on the lower) for approximately two weeks before switching to the next in the series. Week by week, the patient's teeth are straightened, millimeter by millimeter. Total treatment time is similar to traditional braces and usually ranges from 6 to 24 months depending on the complexity of the case.