Direct-to-Consumer Clear Aligners Disrupting Ortho Market

With some of Invisalign-maker Align Technology’s patents expiring last year, a new crop of high-tech startups offering clear aligners with a “direct-to-consumer” business model are hitting the market. Hoping to tap into this $11 billion market* and appeal to the 65% of the population that could benefit from orthodontic treatment**, these options are less expensive than traditional methods and require fewer—or no—dental office visits. 

Here are some of the new players:

• Smileshapers.com, founded by industry veteran Stuart Steinbock, formerly of Whip Mix Corp. With this service, the patient receives a starter kit, takes impressions and sends them back to smileshapers.com using the pre-paid label. The orthodontic team develops a personalized treatment plan, sends the patient a preview and, if approved, the company ships the patient all of his aligners. (Smileshapers also provides outsourcing...
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