Description:
The Invention: The invention pertains to an orthodontic system that allows interchangeability between clear aligners and fixed wires (braces). At the heart of the system is a pre-fabricated bracket with geometry which contains a slot that allows for placement of an arch wire or an aligner. This system solves a clinical problem when patients are being treated by one system and are transitioned to the other. At present, clear aligner treatment and fixed appliances are distinctly separate treatments. We have designed a pre-fabricated bracket with slot geometry which allows for archwire insertion and tie-in as well as engagement of the slot with a corresponding portion of the aligner. This technology will allow for ease of conversion from one treatment type to another.
Benefits:
1. Allows for easy transition between clear aligner treatment and fixed appliances (braces)
2. Novel bracket slot geometry allows for binding of the archwire or friction-free as needed
3. Relative to current aligner attachments that are hand-made chairside, this is a pre-fabricated bracket/attachment
Market Opportunity:
According to Fortune Business Insights, the dental market is expected to grow over the course of the next 10 years after being currently valued at 38.21B in 2023. There is an anticipated CAGR of 7.9% to reach a valuation of 65.23B by 2030. The market is expected to be impacted by a rise and prevalence in “malocclusion, periodontitis, and tooth decay”. Furthermore, “The global dental market size was valued at $36.08 billion in 2022 & is projected to grow from $38.21 billion in 2023 to $65.23 billion by 2030”.
Intellectual property
Early Stage