Industry News

Benco Dental Announces Distribution Agreement With Align Technology
Benco Dental recently announced a distribution agreement with Align Technology for Align’s family of iTero Element intraoral scanners. This agreement expands Benco’s offerings with iTero scanner’s digital technology including exclusive visualization software with the Invisalign Outcome Simulator. The iTero Element scanner enables clinicians and their patients to visualize changes in dentition and perform restorative and orthodontic workflows that enhance patient care. To date, over 10 million scans have been submitted with the iTero Element family of intraoral scanning technology.

The iTero Element, iTero Element 2 and iTero Element Flex intraoral scanners all have high precision, full-color imaging and fast scan times. The next-generation iTero Element 2 has a faster start-up and 25% faster scan processing time compared to the iTero Element. The iTero Element Flex is a wand-only device that transforms compatible laptop computers into a highly portable scanner that works anywhere—it’s ideal for practices with multiple locations who need a scanner that is convenient and easy to transport.

ClearCorrect and Align Technology Agree to Settle Long-Standing Patent Dispute out of Court
ClearCorrect, a Straumann Group company, has agreed to pay $35 million to settle its longstanding patent dispute with Align Technology out of court, and to withdraw its assertions that certain Align patents in the U.S. and Brazil are invalid. In return, Align has agreed to drop all pending infringement litigation against the company.

This litigation began several years before ClearCorrect was acquired by the Straumann Group, and the settlement amount is largely provisioned for in the acquisition agreement. It is expected to result in a one-time expense of approximately $8 million for the Straumann Group in the first half of 2019.

As part of the settlement, Straumann and Align have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent for the parties to explore the development and distribution of a version of Align’s iTero intraoral scanner that would be fully integrated into the Straumann/Dental Wings DWOS workflow. Such a device would offer users access to the Straumann Cares digital workflow, Straumann’s CoDiagnostiX guided implant surgery and the ClearCorrect platform. Additionally the parties are considering exploring the possibility of offering existing iTero users access to Straumann’s prosthetic and surgical planning workflows.

If the companies fail to enter into the potential development and distribution agreement within 90 days of the effective date of the settlement (or as mutually extended by the parties), Straumann will pay Align an additional $16 million. Other terms of the settlement agreement are confidential.

Ormco Launches .018 Slot Offering for Symetri Clear Ceramic Twin Brackets
Ormco, a manufacturer and provider of advanced orthodontic technology and services, recently announced that Symetri Clear—its latest in ceramic twin brackets—is now offered in the .018 slot option.

Adding to Ormco’s expansive product portfolio of lingual and self-ligating bracket systems, Symetri Clear is an aesthetic bracket system incorporating design features that apply expert clinical advice and analysis as well as end-user feedback and technological advancements.

Designed with a low profile and ample torque and tie-wing strength, Symetri Clear addresses and minimizes the challenges that can come with leveraging a ceramic system—bracket breakage, wire notching and difficulties while debonding. Symetri Clear is designed to debond in one piece without fracturing, requiring minimal forces. Offered in the McLaughlin, Bennett, Trevisi+ prescription, Symetri Clear was designed with years of dedicated research and development, focusing on clinical analysis, end-user feedback and Ormco’s proprietary development of technological advancements in ceramics. Serving the needs of doctors and patients, the twin bracket is designed with round surfaces and edges to aid in enhanced patient comfort.