SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 3, 2013) - Align Technology, Inc. (
"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 Dental.
Terms of the distribution agreement between Align and Henry Schein Dental are confidential and will not be disclosed. Align does not expect Realine to have a material impact on its fiscal 2013 financial results. The agreement will not have a material impact on the 2013 financial results of Henry Schein.
How Realine Works:
1. The doctor orders a Realine Starter Kit directly from Henry Schein Dental. The kit includes a pre-paid Realine case, account setup information, a Quick Start guide, and marketing collateral.
2. After receiving the Realine Starter Kit the doctor visits the Realine doctor site to set up an online account.
3. The doctor collects patient records including three intra-oral photos and either an iTero intraoral dental scan or PVS dental impressions.
4. The doctor submits the Realine prescription form and uploads the patient's photos online and sends the patient's iTero intraoral scan or PVS impressions to Align.
5. Realine provides the doctor with a 3D view of treatment for review via a web-based tool. At this time the doctor may approve or cancel treatment. Once approved, the Realine aligners are custom manufactured and shipped directly to the doctor's office. All subsequent Realine case submissions may be submitted directly online at doctor.realine.com and without additional Realine Starter Kits.
After submitting a Realine case, the doctor uses a web-based 3D viewing tool that compares images of the patient's initial and final tooth positions to show what can be achieved in a maximum of five stages. Realine doctors with cases outside of the scope of a single Realine treatment may purchase multiple treatments, refer those cases to an Invisalign provider in their area, or may sign up for an Invisalign Clear Essentials I course through their Henry Schein representative. Henry Schein Dental will provide customer support on all initial Realine sales and billing inquiries. Align will provide customer support for Realine product inquiries including online registration and web page support, case status, clinical inquiries, and general treatment questions. The Realine Starter Kit will be commercially available in the U.S. from Henry Schein Dental beginning June 24, 2013, with commercial availability in Canada expected in Q1 2014. The Realine Starter Kit, which includes the first Realine case, and subsequent Realine Single Cases are offered for a lab fee of $575 each, with optional one-time per case refinements for an additional lab fee of $125 each. As part of the Realine product offering Henry Schein Dental will also offer Vivera Retainers for a lab fee of $275, which includes four sets of new retainers to maintain final tooth position after treatment. For more information please go to www.aligntech.com.
Align Web Cast and Conference Call
Align Technology will host a conference call today, June 3, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. PT, to discuss the Realine Product Offering. The conference call will also be web cast live via the Internet. To access the web cast, go to the "Events & Presentations" section under Company Information on Align Technology's Investor Relations web site at http://investor.aligntech.com. To access the conference call, please dial 201-689-7817 approximately fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call. An archived audio web cast will be available beginning approximately one hour after the call's conclusion and will remain available for approximately 3 months. Additionally, a telephonic replay of the call can be accessed by dialing 877-660-6853 with conference number 415887 followed by #. For international callers, please dial 201-612-7415 and use the same conference number referenced above. The telephonic replay will be available through 5:30 p.m. ET on June 10, 2013.
About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology designs, manufactures and markets Invisalign, a proprietary method for treating malocclusion, or the misalignment of teeth. Invisalign corrects malocclusion using a series of clear, nearly invisible, removable appliances that gently move teeth to a desired final position. Because it does not rely on the use of metal or ceramic brackets and wires, Invisalign significantly reduces the aesthetic and other limitations associated with braces. Invisalign is appropriate for treating adults and teens. Align Technology was founded in March 1997 and received FDA clearance to market Invisalign in 1998.The Invisalign product family includes Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Assist, Invisalign Express 10, Invisalign Express 5, Invisalign Lite, and Vivera Retainers. To learn more about Invisalign or to find an Invisalign trained doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. is the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, medical and animal health practitioners. The Company also serves dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites. A Fortune 500® Company and a member of the NASDAQ 100® Index, Henry Schein employs more than 15,500 Team Schein Members and serves more than 775,000 customers.
The Company offers a comprehensive selection of products and services, including value-added solutions for operating efficient practices and delivering high-quality care. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 96,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 110,000 additional products available as special-order items.
The Company also offers its customers exclusive, innovative technology solutions, including practice management software and e-commerce solutions, as well as a broad range of financial services.
Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 25 countries. The Company's sales reached a record $8.9 billion in 2012, and have grown at a compound annual rate of 17% since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.
