Digital orthodontics is transforming the specialty, and in this episode of the Golden Age of Orthodontics, hosts Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein sit down with Align Technology CEO Joe Hogan to explore what's next for orthodontics. Joe Hogan discusses 3D printed aligners, AI in orthodontics, and how clear aligner technology continues to evolve. He addresses pricing concerns and competitive positioning, and reveals Align's roadmap for direct printing, promising greater design flexibility and efficiency. Learn how AI technology enhances orthodontic treatment planning and discover why Hogan believes technology will expand—not replace—the orthodontic profession.
What you will Learn in this Episode:
✅ How digital orthodontics and 3D printing technology are revolutionizing aligner manufacturing, with Align's development of variable wall thickness aligners that mimic the orthodontic digital workflow advantages of traditional brackets while reducing waste by 95%.
✅ The strategic reasons behind Invisalign cost comparison with competitors, including how comprehensive aligner treatment pricing differs globally.
✅ Why orthodontic IP protection matters for innovation, and how Align's billion-dollar investment in ClinCheck software and iTero scanner technology creates efficiency tools that reduce weekend treatment planning time for practitioners.
✅ Joe Hogan's perspective on AI in orthodontics and whether technology will replace orthodontists—plus how orthodontic practice efficiency improvements will actually expand the marketplace and enhance the profession rather than diminish it.
Subscribe to the Golden Age of Orthodontics and our sister podcast, Practice Talk, hosted by Lacie Ellis, wherever you listen to stay updated on orthodontic innovation and real-world practice strategies. Visit People in Practice for more insights and to connect with our team for practice growth solutions.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Joe Hogan, Align Technology CEO, discussing the future of digital orthodontics and clear aligner technology innovation
07:18 Align's strategic focus on clear aligner therapy versus custom digital braces, and addressing the resurgence of brackets among younger patients
10:25 Joe defends Align’s IP, noting decades of innovation and significant R&D investment
13:36 Invisalign cost comparison explained: why US pricing differs from international markets, new flexible comprehensive aligner treatment options and marketing questions
22:56 Direct 3D printed aligners roadmap: CubiCure acquisition, bio-based resin development, variable wall thickness advantages, and orthodontic practice efficiency gains
28:58 AI in orthodontics and the future of the profession: why technology enhances rather than replaces orthodontists and expands the adult patient marketplace
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 Align Technology is pioneering 3D printed aligners with variable wall thickness capabilities through their CubiCure acquisition, enabling customized force application—40 mils on molars versus 10 mils on incisors—that mimics orthodontic digital workflow advantages of traditional brackets while eliminating 95% manufacturing waste and promising future cost efficiencies for practitioners.
💎 Invisalign treatment planning efficiency has dramatically improved with 20-25% of cases now "touchless" requiring minimal orthodontist input at the end, thanks to ClinCheck software, iTero scanner technology, and cloud-based systems that free doctors from weekend treatment planning sessions and enable better remote orthodontic...
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