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 monitoring capabilities.

💎 AI in orthodontics will enhance rather than replace the profession according to Hogan, who emphasizes that clear aligner technology expanded the marketplace by bringing adult patients to orthodontics at unprecedented levels—top practices now see 50% adult patients versus the wire-and-bracket era when adults rarely sought treatment.

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Align - LinkedIn

Align - Website

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

People + Practice  - Website 

Practice Talk

QUOTES: 

"I hope the orthodontic community can see it's not us telling them how to practice, but giving them tools to allow them to practice more efficiently and in a better way with their patients." - Joe Hogan

"If you go back to the complete analog data set and look at wires and brackets by nature, that process is constraining. You don't have a number of people who want to go through that process with wires and brackets. What did Invisalign bring to the market? It brought an adult population to the marketplace that never existed before." - Joe Hogan

SEO KEYWORDS: Golden Age of Orthodontics, Dr. Leon Klempner, Amy Epstein, Orthodontics, AAO, Joe Hogan, Align Technology, Digital orthodontics, 3D printed aligners, AI in orthodontics, clear aligner technology, how AI technology enhances orthodontic treatment planning, Orthodontic Digital Workflow, 3D Printing Technology,  Invisalign Cost Comparison, ClinCheck Software, iTero Scanner Technology, Orthodontic Practice Efficiency, Analog Brackets and Wires