CELEBRATING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION - Ms. Julie Tay Senior Vice President and Managing Director <strong>Asia</strong> Pacific of Align Technology Interviewed by Dr. Chala R. Platon 24 DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL <strong>2019</strong>
<strong>Dental</strong> Profile An in-depth interview with Align Technology’s Ms. Julie Tay on the company’s milestones, innovations and exciting times ahead. Align Technology is a global medical device company that has produced industryleading innovations such as Invisalign clear aligners, iTero Intraoral scanners, and OrthoCAD digital services that are helping dental professionals achieve the clinical results they expect and deliver effective, cuttingedge dental options to their patients. For over 21 years, they have always set a high bar for leadership and change in the dental industry by constantly innovating to bring new and better solutions to doctors and their patients. Today, Align Technology has helped treat over six million patients with the Invisalign system and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry with the iTero Intraoral scanner − helping to modernise today’s practices by replacing physical impressions, taking treatment planning online, and creating the potential to enable and improve almost every type of dental treatment offered. Previously, <strong>Dental</strong> <strong>Asia</strong> spoke to Mr. Joe Hogan, Director, President and Chief Officer of Align Technology at the 2018 Invisalign APAC Summit. This time, we had a chance to sit down with Ms. Julie Tay, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, <strong>Asia</strong> Pacific of Align Technology to find out more about what sets the company apart from other aligner companies, how it stays ahead, significant milestones reached, her views on the <strong>Asia</strong> Pacific region and future plans. The pioneer brand in clear aligner systems Align Technology is dedicated to transforming lives by improving the journey to a healthy, beautiful smile. Their goal is to become an indispensable partner to dental professionals worldwide while continuing to build a great company. According to Ms. Tay, Align Technology is the pioneer in clear aligner systems and currently, Invisalign system is offered in more than 100 countries worldwide by Invisalign-trained doctors to their adult and teenage patients. She explained that there are several factors that set Align Technology’s Invisalign system apart from other clear aligner systems available now in the market. “Firstly, our product development is unique and we are using a proprietary material. Secondly, we are the largest 3D manufacturer in the world, producing hundreds of thousands of customised clear aligners every day. Furthermore, we have invested over a billion dollars in R&D focusing on innovation. Lastly, we are a fully digitalised integrated system with the world’s largest database of the oral cavity and teeth. I believe that we are very well positioned to lead in the artificial intelligence play in the digital world,” explained Ms. Tay. The experience and know-how that Align Technology has developed includes a wealth of information about individual tooth movements and all types of malocclusions, and about what moves teeth predictably and what doesn’t. This information is a tremendous resource that gives rise to new insights, new treatment planning ideas, feature sets, software protocols, and more. No other single individual or company is currently able to harness digital treatment data on this scale. This depth of experience aids and accelerates our technology innovation every day. The SmartTrack proprietary material Ms. Tay further discussed that the SmartTrack material for Invisalign clear aligners took the company’s in-house scientists more than five years to develop. Launched commercially in 2013, Align’s proprietary SmartTrack material is an innovative multi-layer polymer that delivers gentler, constant force to improve control of tooth movements with Invisalign clear aligners. The SmartTrack material was designed specifically for orthodontic treatment with Invisalign aligners and more precisely, conforms to tooth morphology, attachments, and interproximal spaces compared to other aligner materials. “It is soft and very comfortable to wear. The technology lies in the material, the piece of plastic that is unique to Invisalign clear aligners. It is not hard, yet it has the ability and technology to move teeth very gradually. At the end of the day, the patient has the comfort and efficacy of the product. SmartTrack is one of a kind, not something you can buy off the shelf,” she proudly explained. Expanding innovative solutions for the region Aside from developing the SmartTrack material, Align Technology continues to expand its innovative solutions and technologies. They have introduced Mandibular Advancement (MA), the first clear aligner solution for Class II correction in growing tween (age group between a child and a teenager) and teen patients. This combines the benefits of the most advanced clear aligner system with features of moving the lower jaw forward while simultaneously aligning the teeth. Invisalign Teen Clear Aligner system with mandibular advancement offers a simpler, more efficient and patient-friendly treatment option than functional appliances and without the need for elastics typically used to treat teen Class II patients. “The Mandibular Advancement is similar to a twinblock appliance but is less complicated and less painful. With MA, we are just using a piece of clear aligner to MARCH / APRIL <strong>2019</strong> DENTAL ASIA 25