A new frontier in clear aligner orthodontics

Orthodontics is at a crossroads. Our patient base is growing; our clinical expertise is crucial. Research shows that around 75% of Americans could benefit from orthodontic treatment, and the long-term oral and systemic health downsides to delaying or forgoing treatment are becoming increasingly clear.

Clear aligners, specifically, dramatically expanded the number of patients who are able to access and afford orthodontic treatment while simultaneously enabling clinicians to effectively treat even more patients. Yet these advances are still not keeping pace with the growing demand for straighter, healthier teeth. That’s one reason why I helped found Candid in 2017 — and why I’m so thrilled to share how Candid is paving the way for clinicians across the United States to meet the growing demand for orthodontic treatments.

Candid recently announced that we’ve pivoted away from our direct-to-consumer business and are now solely focused on the CandidPro™ service to democratize clinical access to the latest orthodontic standards — while sunsetting our direct-to-consumer product. We’re bringing everything we’ve developed over the past 5 years — stellar patient experience, cutting-edge aligner designs, industry-leading treatment planning technologies, smart-patient acquisition strategies, and a strong, memorable brand — to clinicians across the U.S. looking for a better clear aligner system. As the U.S. clear aligner market is expected to grow to $6.17 billion by 2028, my concern is that we will find ourselves unable to fully address this tsunami of demand. If we’re unable to meet our patients’ desires, they will find alternative avenues to get the treatment they want. We have to get smarter about scaling our practices, or we risk losing those potential patients to subpar services — potentially resulting in irreversible damage. We need to take the reins and solidify our role, as clinicians, as the primary source of truth in orthodontic treatment.

The good news: our patients are more informed than ever — and most of them want a local doctor overseeing their case. Though the Internet has produced some of our stiffest competition, it’s also helped patients learn more about why straight teeth are beneficial for their long-term well-being. Some patients are comfortable working with a fully remote, direct-to-consumer solution, but our research at Candid shows that of those who did not pursue remote clear aligner therapy, approximately 80% did not because they preferred to have a local clinician involved in their treatment. I’m inviting you to join us to meet this unique moment for our field. With CandidPro, we can address the growing demand for clear aligners conveniently and efficiently. I acknowledge that at its current stage, CandidPro may not be the first choice for your most complex cases. However, it will give you the opportunity to spend more time on those patients and the auxiliaries they often require. Stay tuned as we have a roadmap with more exciting technological advancements over the horizon. I’ve shared more details about CandidPro in this issue of Orthodontic Practice US. We’re taking a page from the book of the great Wayne Gretzky and “Skating to where the puck is going to be, not where it is.” I hope you’ll give it a read and reach out to our team with any questions you may have.