Align Technology, Henry Schein Releases Realine Product Line for Non-Invisalign GP Dentists

Align Technology, Inc. ALGN and Henry Schein Dental, the U.S. dental business of Henry Schein, Inc. HSIC, today announced the introduction of Realine(TM), an entry level, five-stage clear aligner product designed for very minor crowding and spacing issues that general practitioner (GP) dentists see in their practices every day, including dental relapse. Realine offers non-Invisalign GP dentists a competitively-priced, easy to use product for patients with very limited treatment goals, especially adults whose teeth have shifted or "relapsed" after adolescent orthodontic treatment. Realine will be available in the U.S. by mid-June exclusively through Henry Schein Dental, the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental practitioners. "This is Align's first exclusive distribution partnership in North America for a clear aligner product," said Greg Morrow, Align Technology Vice President and General Manager for Invisalign. "Henry Schein Dental provides the reach, scalability, and strong long term relationships with GP dentists to help Align reach an untapped market of more than 80,000 dentists with Realine, while still allowing us to maintain our primary focus on Invisalign providers and comprehensive orthodontic treatment through Invisalign." "We are excited to join with Align in bringing the benefits of a clear aligner solution to the broader dental market," said Tim Sullivan, President, Henry Schein North American Dental Group. "Realine provides GPs and their patients a new method for correcting minor alignment issues and, in partnership with Henry Schein Dental, a new way to grow their practice. Henry Schein Dental is proud to partner with Align as its exclusive provider for Realine." Over the last decade, Align has helped expand the overall market for orthodontics by offering Invisalign, a clear aligner solution that makes orthodontic treatment more appealing than traditional braces, especially among adult patients, and by expanding orthodontic treatment to more patients through Invisalign-trained GP dentists. Today, more patients are starting treatment with clear aligners each year and there is greater consumer awareness of orthodontic treatment overall. Research shows approximately 100 million adult consumers in the U.S. alone would like to improve their smile and are interested in straighter teeth, but many would never consider braces. These are patients who are unlikely to see an orthodontist, but may consider correction of minor crowding and spacing with an affordable clear aligner solution offered by their general dentist. With Realine, Align has an opportunity to further expand the market for orthodontic and cosmetic treatment by offering an entry-level clear aligner solution to even more dental practices and their patients through the well-established and trusted dental products distributor Henry Schein