Invisible Orthodontics

Invisible Orthodontics

Invisible orthodontics is a branch of dentistry where teeth can be aligned with the use of nearly invisible braces. This comprises of diagnosis and correction of teeth and jaws aligned in an improper manner. This practice of dental medicine involves consultation, diagnosis, and treatment of misaligned teeth and jaws. It mainly involves the usage of teeth-aligning appliances. Invisible orthodontics can be used to treat multiple dental problems, like gaps between teeth, crowded teeth, crossbites, and others. The most prevalent dental condition reported among all issues is gaps between teeth which is treated with the assistance of braces, usually made up of metals or clear brackets. Invisible braces come with a far larger number of options than traditional braces which provide propelling force to the invisible orthodontics market. These dental aligners are categorized into ceramic braces, clear aligners, and lingual braces. Several factors, including a surge in the incidence of dental issues, the prevalence of aesthetic surgeries, and increased investments in dental care are driving the growth of the market during the forecast period.

The Invisible Orthodontics Market is expected to grow at a steady rate of around 18% owing to the increased demand for aesthetic appeal globally. According to stats published by the National Institute of Health as per a survey conducted in the year 2022, 90.7% of dental specialists agreed that there has been increased demand for aesthetic dental procedures in recent years all across the world. Several other factors, such as the rising trend of getting discrete braces, and others are leading drivers of invisible orthodontics globally. According to the recent data given by the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2023, about 95% of adults in India are suffering from dental caries, on the other hand about 50% of adults are suffering from periodontal disease. Apart from this, accelerated treatment efficiency with invisible orthodontics has resulted in faster treatment procedures and better accuracy which is also driving this market of invisible orthodontics at a steady rate. As per WHO’s report in 2020, the U.S. ranked highest in direct and indirect yearly expenditures related to the leading oral diseases. The World Health Assembly also took an initiative towards spreading awareness about oral health and revised a strategy, ‘Resolution on Oral Health’ in 2022 which recommends a shift from the traditional treatment approach towards a preventive approach that includes spreading awareness about oral health within the family, schools, and workplaces with an approach towards universal health coverage for oral health by 2030.

• Based on type, the market is segmented into ceramic braces, clear aligners, and lingual braces. The clear aligners segment held the maximum share in the global market of invisible orthodontics in 2022. This segment dominated the market because of its discrete manner of treating misaligned teeth as per patient’s convenience. Also, they are safer than other braces and offer an attractive look to the patients. Increasing dental tourism is also a propelling factor for this segment. For instance, according to a report by the Dental Organization in 2021, dental tourism has been rising because of the increase in the cost of dental care. A search for affordable dental care has made hundreds and thousands of people travel abroad every year. Spain has emerged as a popular dental tourism destination, infamous for its high standards of dentistry, in affordable prices that are up to 50-60 % lower than in the U.S. Thus, clear aligners dominated the market of invisible orthodontics in 2021.
• On the basis of age, the market is categorized into children, adolescents, and adults. The adolescent segment is dominating the market owing to the increased adoption of invisible dental aligners in people of young age. Additionally, there has been increased demand for aesthetically attractive braces in this generation which is a driving factor for this segment. For instance, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the U.S. National Institutes of Health estimated in November 2022 that 57% of 12 to 19-year-old adolescents have had dental caries in their permanent teeth. While a little older adolescents and those living in lower-class families were more likely to have tooth decay. Thus, the adolescent segment dominated the market in 2021.
• On the basis of end users, the market is segmented into hospitals, dental clinics, and others. The dental clinic segment held a significant share of the market in 2022 attributed to the rising admissions in dental clinics for dental treatments, rising government support, increasing grants by dental healthcare companies, and awareness programs regarding safety measures in the past few years. For instance, the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation are contributing nearly USD 2 million to support high-quality, comprehensive oral health services in November 2021. Thus, dental clinics held the maximum share in the market in 2021.
• For a better understanding of the market adoption of invisible orthodontics, the market is analyzed based on its worldwide presence in countries such as North America (U.S., Canada, and Rest of North America), Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Rest of World. North America is dominating the market in the current scenario of the year 2022 due to the rising number of investments in developing user-friendly discrete invisible braces. People in developed nations such as North America are happier to spend an extra penny for their dental well-being. Government organizations are initiating dental training programs for dental specialists to provide efficient care to patients. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. launched a program in September 2023, the Dental Public Health Residency Program (DPHR) to train dental specialists who are able to work cooperatively with public health and achieve modified oral health for the American population. Also, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NICDR) is a program launched for dentists in September 2021. This dental public health research training program is a full-time, three-year fellowship to train dentists with the skills and knowledge to improve the dental health of individuals. Thus, the U.S. held the maximum share of the invisible orthodontics market in 2021.
• Some of the major players operating in the market include Align Technology, Inc.; 3M; Envista; Dentsply Sirona; ClearPath Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd.; Henry Schein Inc.; Institute Straumann AG; G&H Orthodontics; Ormco Corporation; LingualSystems GmbH.