The History of Invisalign: From Stanford Students to Orthodontic Revolution

Invisalign is a revolutionary orthodontic treatment that has changed the way people straighten their teeth. It was invented by Zia Chishti, a Stanford University student who was undergoing orthodontic treatment himself. He envisioned an alternative treatment that used clear aligners instead of braces, and partnered with Kelsey Wirth and two other Stanford students to create Align Technology, the company that would bring Invisalign to market. Before the invention of Invisalign, the brace and wire system was practically the only way to get straighter teeth.

For those who wanted straighter teeth but didn't want to undergo metal braces, there were few, if any, alternatives. Invisalign was a pioneering invention and changed dental alignment technology in the dental world. The use of innovative, transparent aligners provided patients with a comfortable and aesthetic alternative to traditional braces. Align Technology is a manufacturer of digital 3D scanners and Invisalign clear aligners used in orthodontics.

It is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona; it manufactures the aligners in Juarez, Mexico, and its scanners in Israel and China. Universities like Harvard began requiring their students in the Dental Medicine program to complete an Invisalign certification before they were allowed to graduate. Invisalign made it possible for those who would never choose to have metal braces, whether for cosmetic or health reasons, to get the straightest teeth they want. Suddenly and for the first time, Invisalign had serious competition from companies that not only did things smarter and better, but also cheaper.

SmartTrack also allows Invisalign to be almost invisible and durable, the material is also free of gluten, latex, bisphenol-A and other harmful substances. Levoy in the 3D painting technique led to the development of algorithms that were used to create 3D models of Invisalign. The number of Invisalign users more than doubled in two years, from 80,000 in 2002 to 175,000 by the end of 2004. Users are also cautioned against using hot water to clean their Invisalign, as it could damage the plastic body of the aligners. Invisalign has revolutionized orthodontic treatment and has become a popular choice for those seeking straighter teeth without metal braces. With its innovative technology and constantly evolving products, Invisalign will continue to grow in popularity in the future.