Latest news with #orthodontics
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Abra Dental Expands Access to Quality Care with New Paterson, NJ Office
PATERSON, N.J., July 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Abra Dental, a leading provider of family and pediatric dental care, proudly announces the grand opening of its seventh location at 370 Broadway in Paterson, New Jersey. The new office is now open and accepting new patients from Paterson and the surrounding communities. With a commitment to providing high-quality, accessible dental care, Abra Dental's Paterson office features state-of-the-art technology and a compassionate, multilingual team skilled in serving patients of all ages. Services include preventive care, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, emergency dental services, and more, all in a welcoming and family-friendly environment. "We are thrilled to bring Abra Dental's mission of accessible, high-quality dental care to the families of Paterson," said Dr. Michael Skolnick, Founder and CEO of Abra Health Group. "Our goal is to ensure that every member of the community has access to the dental services they need to achieve and maintain healthy smiles." Paterson Mayor André Sayegh welcomed Abra Dental's arrival, stating, "The opening of Abra Dental at 370 Broadway is a win for Paterson residents. Increasing access to quality healthcare, especially for children and families, is vital for our city's well-being and future. We're grateful to Abra Dental for investing in our community." Abra Dental is supported by Abra Health Group, a doctor-led dental support organization (DSO) headquartered in New Jersey. Abra Health Group provides administrative and operational support, allowing clinicians to focus on delivering excellent patient care. With a growing network across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut Abra Health Group is committed to expanding access to essential healthcare services in underserved communities. The new Paterson office joins a family of six Abra Dental locations throughout New Jersey, including offices in Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Kearny. Abra Dental accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicaid and CHIP, helping to reduce barriers to care for local families. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (973) 221-8758 or visiting For more information about the Abra Health Group and Abra Dental please visit their respective websites at and About Abra Health Group Founded in 2008 by Doctors Michael and Brooke Skolnick, a husband-and-wife dental team, Abra Health Group includes a rapidly expanding family of dental practices. With multiple recent acquisitions and new locations opening regularly, the group includes several multi-specialty dental clinics for patients of all ages in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Our singular mission is to provide access to high-quality, affordable care to underserved communities. By firmly placing our patients first, we aim to deliver an exceptional experience as we improve their well-being. Our vision is to become a leading dental support organization to underserved communities in the areas that we serve. With over 1,000 employees across 3 states and 23 locations, our large-footprint practices can accommodate hundreds of patients every day in an inviting, comfortable environment for both patients and staff alike. View source version on Contacts Emmy AnsinelliAbra Health GroupEmail: eansinelli@ Group website: Abra Dental: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
22-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Align Technology Announces Invisalign® System With Mandibular Advancement Featuring Occlusal Blocks for Class II Skeletal and Dental Correction
SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 21, 2025-- Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® System of clear aligners, iTero™ intraoral scanners, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry, today announced commercial availability in Singapore of the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks designed specifically to address Class II skeletal and dental correction by simultaneously advancing the mandible while aligning the teeth. This innovative solution is Align's first clear aligner product with integrated solid occlusal blocks that is designed to deliver predictable mandibular advancement. Invisalign occlusal blocks provide durability, improve engagement, and enable vertical opening to offer earlier advancement of the mandible in cases like skeletal Class II with deep bite to improve treatment efficiency. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks is the latest clinical innovation that expands Align's Class II treatment portfolio for growing patients by offering practitioners a comprehensive solution for treating growing patients with Class II malocclusions caused by mandibular retrusion. The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks is the latest clinical innovation that expands Align's Class II treatment portfolio for growing patients by offering practitioners a comprehensive solution for treating growing patients with Class II malocclusions caused by mandibular retrusion. Class II malocclusion is one of the most common orthodontic problems, characterized by a discrepancy in jaw alignment where the lower jaw (mandible) is positioned too far back relative to the upper jaw (maxilla) and represents approximately 30-45% of malocclusions globally. This condition can lead to functional, aesthetic, and other challenges for patients if left untreated. The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks is primarily intended for growing patients in the late mixed or early permanent dentition stages (ages 10-16), who are still experiencing growth. By leveraging the natural growth potential during pre-adolescence and adolescence, the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks facilitates effective correction of Class II malocclusions, helping to improve occlusal relationships, enhance facial aesthetics, and provide long-term functional benefits, including: 'The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks reflects Align's continued commitment to expanding the capabilities of the Invisalign System, enabling doctors to treat a wider range of malocclusions with precision and efficiency, and helps to continue to advance clear aligners as the standard of care in digital orthodontics,' said Sreelakshmi Kolli, Align Technology executive vice president, chief product and digital officer. 'This latest innovation demonstrates our significant investment in delivering digital orthodontic solutions to growing patients that empower doctors to achieve predictable outcomes while enhancing the patient experience.' 'The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks represents a breakthrough in Class II treatment with clear aligners by allowing doctors to simultaneously address dental and skeletal discrepancies in a more predictable and efficient manner,' said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align Technology executive vice president, chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services. 'The integration of occlusal blocks enhances mandibular engagement as well as provides bite opening making this a versatile solution for different Class II malocclusion including deep bite or div 2. The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks, gives doctors and patients a better option for Class II correction in growing patients while simultaneously straightening their teeth, including more options for feature placement, such as attachments on teeth underneath the blocks (3).' The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks is now commercially available to Invisalign-trained doctors in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, India, and Singapore, and is expected to be introduced in additional APAC markets later in 2025. Along with the Invisalign® Palatal Expander System, Invisalign First™ and Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks, this latest innovation supports the commitment to establishing a unique and differentiated portfolio that supports growing patients throughout their continuum of care. For more information about the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks, or to schedule a training session, please visit or contact your local Align Technology representative. About Align Technology, Inc. Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® System, one of the most advanced clear aligner systems in the world, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 281.4 thousand doctor customers and are key to accessing Align's 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 28 years, Align has helped doctors treat approximately 20.1 million patients with the Invisalign System and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align™ Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit for more information. For additional information about the Invisalign System or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit Invisalign, iTero, exocad, Align, Align Digital Platform, and iTero Lumina are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc. View source version on CONTACT: Align Technology Madelyn Valente (909) 833-5839 [email protected] Group Sarah Karlson (828) 551-4201 [email protected] KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA UNITED STATES ASIA PACIFIC SINGAPORE SOUTHEAST ASIA ARIZONA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY TEENS MEDICAL DEVICES CHILDREN DENTAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE HEALTH CONSUMER SOURCE: Align Technology, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/21/2025 09:00 PM/DISC: 07/21/2025 09:01 PM
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Humans used to have straighter teeth—what changed?
Braces, rubber bands, even jaw surgery—millions endure them in pursuit of a straighter smile. But were misaligned smiles always this common? Research suggests that might not be the case. While malocclusions—crowded or misaligned teeth—have been found among our hunter-gatherer ancestors, they appear to be more prevalent in modern populations. So what changed? Experts say the answer isn't simple but point to one possible culprit: our diets. As we traded raw, tough foods for softer, more processed ones, the burden of chewing decreased, allowing our jaws to shrink over time. Now, researchers are exploring how evolutionary biology, diet, and modern lifestyles may have reshaped our faces—and our smiles. Ancient human skulls were strikingly different from our own. Early hunter-gatherers had large, powerful jaws built for the demanding work of chewing tough meats, fibrous vegetables, seeds, and nuts. But around 12,000 years ago, things began to change. As humans around the world traded hunting for farming, their diets changed too, incorporating more grains and cultivated produce into their diet. These foods were softer, more processed, and required far less chewing.' We did not have ice cream or white bread back in the day,' says Sue Herring, professor emeritus in orthodontics at the University of Washington. 'When you get your food straight from the environment, it's probably a little [grittier] than stuff which has been cooked and processed.' (Neanderthal teeth reveal intimate details of daily life.) With softer diets came less mechanical strain on the jaw. Over generations, our mandibles began to shrink— a trend visible in the fossil record. That shrinkage is, at least in part, adaptive and the result of millennia of evolution, says Myra Laird, assistant professor of basic and translational sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. 'If you don't need a huge mandible, it's energetically costly to build that extra bone.' But not all changes in jaw size and shape are evolutionary. Bone is highly responsive to physical stress—even within a single lifetime—and builds up around muscle attachment sites. In other words, less muscle usage results in less robust bones, Laird says, citing studies of craniofacial growth in non-human animals like hyraxes. 'If you switch to a liquid diet, you will not use your muscles as much and see some shape changes in your face.' (Here's how ultra-processed food harms the body and brain.) That's exactly what researchers believe happened to humans as they adopted agriculture. 'Post-agricultural populations had a marked reduction in the size of the chewing muscles,' Laird says. 'What this suggests is that the origins of agriculture brought about less work for the feeding system'—and, ultimately, much less roomy mouths. So, what happens when you try to fit the same number of teeth into a smaller jaw space? Over-crowding and crookedness. 'The way your teeth come through is almost like a zipper,' says Julie Lawrence, assistant professor of biological anthropology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 'Your jaw moves forward and then it makes space for them to come through.' If there isn't enough room for the teeth to erupt, they might become impacted or crowded together. The third molars, or wisdom teeth, are particularly at risk for noneruption in undersized jaws. Research suggests that the mismatch between the size of the mandible and dentition may be to blame for increasingly crooked teeth among post-industrial humans. 'That loss of space is really what precipitates the malocclusions, dental crowding,' says Laird. 'The rate of malocclusion goes way, way up [in modern humans], and that is ubiquitous across all populations.' (Why we add fluoride to water—and how it became so controversial.) But experts caution that the story isn't so simple. Although the frequency of malocclusions seems to have increased among modern humans, dental impaction and crowding have been observed in early hominid skulls. The fossil record is limited and likely not fully representative, Lawrence says. 'Better teeth tend to be better preserved,' she says, adding that anthropological data doesn't take into account confounding factors like missing teeth. While 'there does seem to be a pattern' of increased malocclusions among post-industrialization humans, Lawrence adds, not all changes in teeth alignment can be attributed to diet. Extreme under- or overbite, for example, is the result of population genetics and 'doesn't have to do with industrialization.' Many other factors can cause crooked teeth, including environmental conditions or developmental anomalies. And some populations are more genetically predisposed to malocclusions. Ultimately, the prevalence of crooked teeth may also be due in small part to aesthetic bias. 'Our modern society is a lot more sensitive to cosmetic problems,' Herring says. 'I think we're a lot more aware of malocclusions now than anybody was in the past.'
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Invisalign® Palatal Expander System by Align Technology Now Available in India for Skeletal and Dental Expansion in Growing Patients
Invisalign® Palatal Expanders offer doctors an effective and easily removeable alternative to traditional palatal expanders, without the need for metal and screws. Combined with Invisalign First™ aligners, Invisalign Palatal Expanders provide doctors with a full early intervention treatment solution, including both skeletal (orthopedic) and dental (orthodontic) arch expansion. MUMBAI, India, July 15, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Align Technology, Inc. ("Align") (Nasdaq: ALGN) a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® System of clear aligners, iTero™ intraoral scanners, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry, today announced that Align's Invisalign Palatal Expander System has been approved as a Class B medical device by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and is now commercially available in India for broad patient applicability, including growing children, teens and adults (with surgery or other techniques). The Invisalign Palatal Expander System is a modern and innovative direct 3D printed device based on proprietary and patented technology. Invisalign Palatal Expanders are intended for use in rapid expansion and subsequent holding of skeletal and/or dental narrow maxilla (upper jaw) with primary, mixed, or permanent dentition during treatment of patients. "The Invisalign Palatal Expander System exemplifies our commitment to advancing digital orthodontics with innovative solutions that enhance patient treatment experiences," said David Carr, Align Technology executive vice president and managing director, Asia Pacific. "We are excited to extend the availability of the transformative Invisalign Palatal Expander system, Align's first direct 3D printed orthodontic appliance, to even more doctors and their patients markets across the Asia Pacific region." The Invisalign Palatal Expander System consists of a series of removable devices staged in small increments of movement to expand a patient's narrow maxilla to a position determined by their treating doctor. Each direct 3D printed device is customized to the patient's unique anatomy based on an iTero™ intraoral digital scan. A palatal expansion treatment plan and device design are then developed using Align's proprietary AI-driven orthodontic software. Combined with Invisalign First™ aligners, Invisalign Palatal Expanders provide doctors with a full early intervention treatment solution for Phase 1 treatment, an early interceptive orthodontic treatment for young patients. Phase 1 treatment is traditionally done through arch expanders or partial metal braces, before all permanent teeth have erupted – typically at ages 6 through 10. Invisalign First clear aligners are designed specifically to address a broad range of younger patients' malocclusions, including shorter clinical crowns, management of erupting dentition, and predictable dental arch expansion. "Phase 1 or early interceptive treatment accounts for 20 percent of orthodontic case starts each year and is growing," said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align Technology executive vice president, chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services. "Together with Invisalign First aligners, Invisalign Palatal Expanders provide doctors with a solution set to treat the most common skeletal and dental malocclusions in growing children. The addition of mandibular advancement features to Invisalign aligners also provides doctors with more options for treating skeletal and dental jaw imbalances and bite correction for their growing patients during their teenage years." "The Invisalign Palatal Expander System alleviates the most common challenges with palatal expansion, including maintaining proper hygiene, emergency appointments, turning the screw, and the parents' fear of causing pain to their child in treatment," said an Invisalign practitioner based in Vancouver, Canada, who has prescribed the system to her patients. "It's removable and supports oral hygiene while delivering a clinically effective and comfortable treatment experience for growing patients that achieves high satisfaction rates reported by parents." The Invisalign Palatal Expander System is available in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand and India. About Align Technology, Inc. Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® System, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 281.4 thousand doctor customers and is key to accessing Align's 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 28 years, Align has helped doctors treat approximately 20.1 million patients with the Invisalign System and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align Digital Platform™, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit for more information. For additional information about the Invisalign System or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit Invisalign, iTero, exocad, Align, Align Digital Platform and iTero Lumina are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc. About the Invisalign Palatal Expander System The Invisalign Palatal Expander System is a modern, innovative direct 3D printed orthodontic appliance designed based on proprietary and patented technology. The Invisalign Palatal Expander System is intended for the orthodontic treatment of malocclusion. The system is used for the rapid expansion and subsequent holding of skeletal and/or dental narrow maxilla (upper jaw, dental arch and teeth, palate) with primary, mixed, or permanent dentition during orthopedic treatment in children or adolescents. In adults, it is to be used in conjunction with surgery or other interventions when necessary. Devices are 3D printed and are manufactured based on digital scan data from commercially available iTero™ intraoral scanners offered by Align Technology, Ltd. The devices are removable for proper oral hygiene; manufactured to custom fit each patient's anatomy for optimal comfort and aesthetics, expanders fit comfortably in the patient's mouth and are changed daily (no screw required). The System is comprised of Invisalign Palatal Expanders (active expansion, each stage comes with a programmed expansion of up to 0.25mm/stage, changed daily or as per doctor's discretion) and Invisalign Palatal Holders (copies of the last stage of the expansion phase designed to hold the maxilla post-active expansion and changed every 2-4 weeks as directed by the treating doctor), Invisalign Attachment Templates and proprietary 3D shape generation software. These products are not available for purchase by the general public. However, the products are available for purchase from Invisalign® trained dentists and orthodontists. View source version on Contacts Align Technology Madelyn Valente(909) 833-5839mvalente@ Zeno Group Sarah Johnson(828) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Australian Dentists Endorse Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology at Global Symposium in Kunming
Clinicians praise the S8-SGTB appliance for accelerating outcomes, improving patient satisfaction, and offering a non-invasive solution for Class II malocclusions. KUNMING, China, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Smartee Denti-Technology recently welcomed orthodontic experts and partners from Australia at its Global Symposium in Kunming, China. The event offered a deep dive into Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology and showcased its clinical applications, particularly the innovative S8-SGTB appliance for Class II skeletal malocclusions. Australian clinicians praised the device for its simultaneous orthopedic and orthodontic correction, shorter treatment duration, and patient-friendly design. Dr. Knox Kim, Principal Dentist at Dental Clinic @ World Tower Sydney, shared: "In the past, for treating Class II malocclusions in growing patients, we had to use twin-block appliances before starting aligner therapy. It took at least three to six months to see the improvement. But with Smartee, from my own experience, it only took about one or two weeks before the patient could notice the lower jaw was pushing forward. And when I show the patients and the patients' parents the before and after photos, they were very happy to see such a quick response and improvement." Dr. Jenny J. Song from Blossom Dental Care added: "Compared to traditional functional and fixed appliances, Smartee GS is intelligently designed to guide both mandible repositioning and teeth movement simultaneously. This not only reduces total treatment time but also improves the predictability of outcomes." Dr. Sabrina Liu, a general dentist in Sydney, reflected: "This seminar was eye-opening. The number of successful mandibular repositioning cases using Smartee GS aligners changed my perception of what clear aligners can achieve. I hope more dentists in Australia will learn about this technique to benefit their patients." At the core of Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology is S8-SGTB, a clear, non-invasive appliance designed to treat skeletal Class II discrepancies, minimizing the need for jaw surgeries or extractions. Engineered for both growing and adult patients, it integrates orthopedic and orthodontic functions in a single aligner-based solution. Key features include: Simultaneous mandibular repositioning and dental alignment Anotomical occlusal splints and locking components for stable joint advancement Minimizing need for extractions or surgeries Discreet, comfortable design compared to bulky functional devices The S8-SGTB represents Smartee's commitment to delivering clinically effective, patient-centered treatment paths for complex cases. Learn more about Smartee Mandibular Repositioning, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Smartee Denti-Technology
