Clear aligners are orthodontic devices that use nearly invisible plastic trays (“aligners”) instead of unsightly brackets and wires used in traditional braces. Clear aligner treatment is visually discreet, causes less discomfort when speaking, and can be removed when necessary. There are two main methods of manufacturing clear aligners: manual fabrication and 3D scanner/3D printer-based fabrication. The manual method, performed in dental laboratories, requires technicians to manually adjust tooth arrangements, which increases labor costs.
[Fig] Clear Aligner Devices and Traditional Fabrication Environments
Align Technology (USA) first launched Invisalign, establishing digital orthodontics through the use of 3D scanning. The digital aligner system replaced the manual process of cutting and repositioning plaster models of teeth with fully computerized modeling. Unlike traditional manual methods that required incremental adjustments, this digital process allows technicians to set only the final tooth positions, while intermediate movements are automatically calculated by the computer — dramatically reducing labor costs. However, Invisalign requires the proprietary 3D scanner and 3D printer supplied by Align Technology, making it very expensive. In the early 2000s, Invisalign was virtually the only digital clear aligner system, but now the market is flooded with alternatives such as E-Cligner, Seethru Aligner, Clear Aligner, Flex Aligner, Real Liner, and Standard Align.
[Fig] Invisalign Clear Aligner and Digital Orthodontic Software
Korean company TnS Co., Ltd. (CEO: Wongeon Jang) successfully raised 5 billion KRW (Series A) with its clear aligner brand SERAFIN. SERAFIN uses a proprietary multilayer sheet manufacturing process that minimizes deformation and provides optimal tooth movement. Through its advanced 3D modeling software SERAview, the company offers customized orthodontic planning, treatment progress management, and outcome tracking. TnS plans to use the investment to enhance the SERAFIN system, expand manufacturing infrastructure (increasing production capacity), and develop new setup software to improve service efficiency and scalability. These efforts aim to strengthen its domestic market share and expand into global markets.
[Fig] TnS Co., Ltd.’s Clear Aligner “SERAFIN” and 3D Modeling Software “SERAview”
Korean companies are also actively developing clear aligner technologies. ODS Co., Ltd. (CEO: Sungwon Park) has developed a clear aligner system using 3D scanning and modeling. Its technology scans the patient’s oral structure using a 3D scanner, generates and stores oral data, inputs various orthodontic parameters into a computer, and directly prints the aligners using a 3D printer—allowing clinics to manufacture aligners easily in-house. This significantly reduces production costs. Additionally, University of Ulsan developed a technology utilizing clinical big data to generate customized orthodontic models focused on specific correction areas, rather than the entire dentition, thus reducing fabrication time for clear aligners.
[Fig] ODS Co., Ltd.’s Clear Aligner Device and Related Solution “PW1”
The clear aligner market is expanding rapidly. According to Global View Research, it is projected to reach USD 32.3 billion by 2030, growing at an average annual rate of 30.08% compared to 2023. With increasing global interest in dental aesthetics, the market for clear aligners is expected to surge. Clear aligners are anticipated to gradually replace traditional orthodontic appliances, opening new opportunities for companies in this fast-growing field.
#ClearAligner #Orthodontics #3DModeling #AIModeling
Clear aligners are orthodontic devices that use nearly invisible plastic trays (“aligners”) instead of unsightly brackets and wires used in traditional braces. Clear aligner treatment is visually discreet, causes less discomfort when speaking, and can be removed when necessary. There are two main methods of manufacturing clear aligners: manual fabrication and 3D scanner/3D printer-based fabrication. The manual method, performed in dental laboratories, requires technicians to manually adjust tooth arrangements, which increases labor costs.
[Fig] Clear Aligner Devices and Traditional Fabrication Environments
Align Technology (USA) first launched Invisalign, establishing digital orthodontics through the use of 3D scanning. The digital aligner system replaced the manual process of cutting and repositioning plaster models of teeth with fully computerized modeling. Unlike traditional manual methods that required incremental adjustments, this digital process allows technicians to set only the final tooth positions, while intermediate movements are automatically calculated by the computer — dramatically reducing labor costs. However, Invisalign requires the proprietary 3D scanner and 3D printer supplied by Align Technology, making it very expensive. In the early 2000s, Invisalign was virtually the only digital clear aligner system, but now the market is flooded with alternatives such as E-Cligner, Seethru Aligner, Clear Aligner, Flex Aligner, Real Liner, and Standard Align.
[Fig] Invisalign Clear Aligner and Digital Orthodontic Software
Korean company TnS Co., Ltd. (CEO: Wongeon Jang) successfully raised 5 billion KRW (Series A) with its clear aligner brand SERAFIN. SERAFIN uses a proprietary multilayer sheet manufacturing process that minimizes deformation and provides optimal tooth movement. Through its advanced 3D modeling software SERAview, the company offers customized orthodontic planning, treatment progress management, and outcome tracking. TnS plans to use the investment to enhance the SERAFIN system, expand manufacturing infrastructure (increasing production capacity), and develop new setup software to improve service efficiency and scalability. These efforts aim to strengthen its domestic market share and expand into global markets.
[Fig] TnS Co., Ltd.’s Clear Aligner “SERAFIN” and 3D Modeling Software “SERAview”
Korean companies are also actively developing clear aligner technologies. ODS Co., Ltd. (CEO: Sungwon Park) has developed a clear aligner system using 3D scanning and modeling. Its technology scans the patient’s oral structure using a 3D scanner, generates and stores oral data, inputs various orthodontic parameters into a computer, and directly prints the aligners using a 3D printer—allowing clinics to manufacture aligners easily in-house. This significantly reduces production costs. Additionally, University of Ulsan developed a technology utilizing clinical big data to generate customized orthodontic models focused on specific correction areas, rather than the entire dentition, thus reducing fabrication time for clear aligners.
[Fig] ODS Co., Ltd.’s Clear Aligner Device and Related Solution “PW1”
The clear aligner market is expanding rapidly. According to Global View Research, it is projected to reach USD 32.3 billion by 2030, growing at an average annual rate of 30.08% compared to 2023. With increasing global interest in dental aesthetics, the market for clear aligners is expected to surge. Clear aligners are anticipated to gradually replace traditional orthodontic appliances, opening new opportunities for companies in this fast-growing field.
#ClearAligner #Orthodontics #3DModeling #AIModeling