CLEAR ALIGNERS MARKET ANALYSIS

Clear aligners are transparent trays made of special material such as polyurethane plastic, polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl acetate, polypropylene, and others which are used to straighten teeth similar to braces. Clear aligners use gentle and constant force to move the teeth in the required position without going through the hassles of conventional metal wires and brackets. Clear aligners are custom made for each patient depending on the severity of teeth misalignment (malocclusion). Customization of clear aligners is performed through a digital scan. Clear aligners help solve dental problems such as crowded teeth, overbites (upper front teeth overlap with the lower front teeth), underbites (lower front teeth overlap with the upper front teeth), diastema (gaps between teeth), misaligned primary (baby) teeth, and others.

The global clear aligners market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3.92 billion in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 17.0% over the forecast period (2022-2030).

Figure 1. Global Clear Aligners Market Share (%), By Region, 2022

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The increasing incidence or prevalence of dental problems such as crooked teeth, malocclusion, and others is expected to drive the growth of the global clear aligners market over the forecast period.

For instance, according to an article published by the European Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, an open access scientific journal, in June 2020, it is estimated that the total prevalence of malocclusion across the globe was 56% in 2019, with the highest prevalence in Africa (81%) and Europe (72%), followed by Americas (53%) and Asia (48%). Malocclusion is one of the most common dental problems, wherein the upper and lower teeth don’t align upon closing the mouth. Malocclusion is usually treated with clear aligners, braces, etc.

Figure 2. Global Clear Aligners Market Value (US$ Mn), By Age Group, 2022

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The increasing research and development activities for the introduction of technologically advanced clear aligners is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

For instance, in February 2022, Bausch Health Companies Inc., a Canada-based pharmaceutical company announced the launch of its technologically advanced OraFit custom clear aligner system, which is indicated for treating malocclusion. This newly launched clear aligner system uses high-performance materials in a three-layer design that offers dental professionals and their patients the latest in clear aligner technology. OraFit custom clear aligner system addresses the increased demand for improved aesthetics, more comfortable aligners as well as overall long-term oral health.

Key players operating in the market are focusing on obtaining regulatory approval of their clear aligners, which is expected to drive growth of the global clear aligners market over the forecast period.

For instance, in June 2021, Ormco Corporation, a U.S. based orthodontic technology company announced that it has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Spark Clear Aligner System indicated for the treatment of mixed dentition in children and teenagers.

Global Clear Aligners Market – Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) was first reported from Wuhan, China in December 2019, and was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), which designates this SARS-CoV-2 infection as novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). According to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Weekly Epidemiological Update by the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has spread across the globe infecting over 519 million population leading to more than 6.3 million deaths as of May 15, 2022. The negative impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare domain is huge and it has significantly disrupted the healthcare industries’ entire supply chain, from raw materials to manufacturing and delivery. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the overall growth of the clear aligners market owing to movement restrictions and lockdowns. However, post opening of lockdown in mid-2020, there has been an increase in the overall sales of clear aligners.

For instance, in February 2021, Align Technology, a U.S.-based medical device company announced that in 2020, it has generated sales of 1,645,000 cases of clear aligners, generating a revenue of US$2.1 billion, which was an increase of 5% as compared to the previous year, i.e. 2019. The company also announced that in 2020, it shipped clear aligners cases to 49,615 dentists in the Americas region (compared with 47,130 in 2019) and to 52,445 dentists outside the Americas (compared with 48,650 in 2019).

Global Clear Aligners Market - Restraint

High cost of clear aligners as well as lack of awareness about dental health problems amongst the population are the factors that are expected to hinder growth of the global clear aligners market over the forecast period.

The cost of clear aligners ranges between US$ 540 to US$ 6,061, all over the world. For instance, Toothsi Easy manufactured by Ampa Orthodontics Private Limited, an India-based orthodontics company costs around ₹ 54,999 (US$ 708) while Toothsi prime costs around ₹ 69,999 (US$ 901).

Key Players

Major players operating in the global clear aligners market include Align Technology, Inc., DynaFlex, Dentsply Sirona, Inc., SmileDirectClub, Straumann Group, Danaher, Henry Schein, Inc., Great Lakes Dental Technologies, Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, eXceed, 3 M, Argen Corporation, Illusion Aligners, Candid Care Co., Tianjin ZhengLi Technology Company Limited, Scheu Dental, TP Orthodontics, Inc., K-Line Europe, 32 Watts, and Klear Aligner.