Clear Aligners Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Age (Adults, Teens), By End-use (Hospitals, Standalone Practices, Group Practices), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global clear aligners market size was valued at USD 4.7 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.5% from 2022 to 2030. Clear aligners are a series of tight-fitting custom-made mouthpieces or orthodontic systems that are useful in correcting misaligned or crooked teeth. Clear aligners are virtually discreet and removable alternatives to braces designed around patients’ convenience and flexibility. Factors such as the growing patient population suffering from malocclusions, rising technological advancements of dental treatment, and growing demand for customized clear aligners are driving the overall market. The pandemic had a positive impact on the market globally and key players recovered with high revenues in 2020 as compared to the previous years.

For instance, according to Dental Tribune, Align Technology sold a record 1.6 million cases of clear aligners in 2020 as compared to 1.5 million cases in 2019. The company also stated that the adoption of Invisalign aligners by adults and teenagers increased by 36.7% and 38.7%, respectively in 2020 and the adoption of aligners among teens or younger patients was the highest during the pandemic. The major factor for the growth of this market was that people were more reluctant to go to an orthodontist’s office to get traditional teeth braces, which increased the adoption of clear aligners. The advent of the pandemic helped the industry prosper in terms of adoption, sales, and revenue, and this trend is expected to continue in the future.

In the advent of escalating dental disorders, advancements like 3D impression systems, additive fabrication, Nickel and Copper-Titanium Wires, digital scanning technology, CAD/CAM appliances, temporary anchorage devices, and incognito lingual braces, clear aligners are among the latest advancements that are making orthodontic treatments more efficient, predictable, and effective. The dental treatments have become customized and technologies like a digital impression system like iTero by Align Technology is assisting in developing accurate and customized clear aligner systems to treat mild to moderate misalignment conditions.

These invisible aligners are developed through virtual digital models, computer-aided design (CAD-CAM), and thermoformed plastic materials like copolyester or polycarbonate plastic. Inconvenience caused by the metal and ceramic braces and the long-term gum sensitivity they can cause has increased the adoption of clear aligners by the patients and dentists. The Aligner is designed with the wearer’s comfort and is flexible. According to Dental Tribune, clear aligner technology has quickly become an increasingly popular alternative to fixed appliances for tooth straightening since it is an aesthetically appealing and comfortable choice. Invisalign is the largest producer of clear aligners and other brands include Clear Correct, Inman Aligner, and Smart Moves. However, factors like the high cost of clear aligners, less number of dentists in emerging areas, and limited insurance coverage on orthodontic treatments are likely to hinder the market growth.

The advent of Covid-19 was eminent on the dental market as the majority of elective procedures were postponed. As dentistry is considered an elective and high contact service, most of the dental practices were closed. However, In the U.S., 27 states allowed dental offices to open for elective care by May 2020, and by June, around 48 states opened for elective dental care. The American Dental Association predicts spending projections to be more optimistic in the future due to the resuming of dental practices and recovering patient volume. The ADA also predicts that dental expenditures will grow and bounce back completely to pre-pandemic levels or 80% of pre-pandemic volume by October 2020 or January 2021, depending on the future scenario.

Age Insights

The adults segment held the largest revenue share of over 60.0% in 2021. Dental conditions like malocclusion are widely prevalent amongst the population and apart from affecting the quality of life, it can also lead to problems such as impaired dentofacial aesthetics, disturbances of oral function, such as mastication, swallowing, and speech, and greater susceptibility to trauma and periodontal disease. Nowadays, acceptable aesthetic appearance including dental appearance plays a vital role in society. An increasing concern for dental appearance is seen more among the adolescent population. Aligner therapy is one of the fastest-growing areas in orthodontics, driven significantly by patients who regard it as a more comfortable, convenient, and discreet alternative to fixed appliances.

The teens segment is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period. The FDA-approved, Invisalign clear aligners developed by Align Technology, have been used in the treatment of 5 million people as of 2018 and worldwide Invisalign shipments to teenagers were about 87.1 thousand cases as of 2018. As per the NCBI, the prevalence of Class I and Class II malocclusions is the highest among the population and the adoption of clear aligners that are effective in treating these conditions has gradually increased. This is because many teenagers prefer avoiding discomfort caused by the metal braces and also look aesthetically appealing. For these reasons, teenagers are highly opting for clear aligners to get treated for their dental conditions. To date, over 1 million teenagers have started orthodontic treatment with Invisalign clear aligners.

End-use Insights

The standalone practices segment held the largest revenue share of over 50.0% in 2021 and is also expected to register a significant CAGR over the forecast period. The end-use segment is divided into hospitals, standalone practices, group practices, and others. The standalone practices segment dominated the market in 2021 as standalone practitioners are readily adopting clear aligner systems and are equipped with advanced digital technologies. According to Today's RDH, a digital media company for Registered Dental Professionals, there are many benefits of choosing private/standalone dental services and some of the benefits include a wider range of dental treatments, shorter wait times, specialist and quality service, and high adoption of the latest equipment and quality materials for both diagnostics and treatment.

According to the American Association of Orthodontics, The American Dental Association (ADA) estimates that 10,658 orthodontists are practicing in the U.S. as of 2017, and approximately 795 of the orthodontists own or share ownership of a practice. Moreover, group practices are reciprocating the highest CAGR over the forecast period as it helps in minimizing costs and maximizing their earning potential while adopting newer advanced technology. The Dentistry News reported that almost half (46%) of NHS dentists are planning to move to private dentistry. 2019 Dentistry Confidence Monitor survey of more than 400 dentists working in the NHS and private settings reported that 84% of private dentists reported they were happy they can provide the level of care they want, compared to 17% of NHS dentists. Moreover, 79% of private dentists said they could carry out their work without feeling overly stressed, compared to 8% of NHS dentists. Factors like flexibility, lesser administrative work, patient-centric customized service, and control over the practice are expected to boost the demand for standalone dental practices.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market with over 55.0% share in 2021. This is attributed to increasing R&D investments and the local presence of global players and their efforts to obtain new patents. A survey conducted by the American Dental Association stated that 85% of individuals in the United States truly value dental health and consider oral health an essential aspect of overall care. There are four million people in the U.S. wearing braces out of which 25% are adults and the advent of clear tray-style aligners has attracted the attention of many patients wanting to improve their smile but would prefer to avoid the metal-mouth look of braces. Factors like increasing awareness regarding the recent development in dental hygiene, various convenient options available for treating teeth misalignment, and a surge in beauty standards have propelled people to opt for aligners in the region.

The APAC region is expected to register the highest CAGR of 31.4% over the forecast period due to the increasing demand for clear aligners in developing economies, namely India and China. The surge is also due to the aesthetic appeal of the aligner systems. In February 2016, Align Technology announced the launch of Invisalign systems that include Invisalign Full, Invisalign Teen, and Invisalign Lite clear aligners, in India targeting over 80 million urban population as they account for a considerable share of sales of premium oral care products in the country.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global market has been characterized by intense competition. One of the key factors driving competitiveness among market players is the rapid adoption of advanced digital technology like intraoral scans, digital tooth set-ups, 3D printers, and CAD/CAM appliances. Moreover, a prominent number of these players are rapidly opting for strategic expansions and collaborations for expanding their geographical presence, increasing sales volume in emerging and economically favorable regions, and product launches.

For instance, in April 2021, Align Technology expanded its global operations by opening a manufacturing plant in Poland. This expansion will allow the company to cater to a large and underpenetrated market for Invisalign in Europe and the Middle East and Africa region. In January 2021, Dentsply Sirona acquired Straight Smile LLC (BYTE)—a leading provider in the direct-to-consumer, doctor-directed clear aligner market. This will assist the company to strengthen its SureSmile aligner business. In April 2021, Envista Holdings Corporation announced a partnership with Curaeos Clinics to provide them with the latest dental technologies. Curaeos Clinics has a wide network of dental clinics across the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and Italy. Some prominent players in the global clear aligners market include:

• Align Technology

• Dentsply Sirona

• Patterson Companies Inc.

• Institute Straumann

• Danaher Corporation

• 3M EPSE

• Argen Corporation

• Henry Schein Inc.

• TP Orthodontics Inc.

Clear Aligners Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global clear aligners market report on the basis of age, end-use, and region:

• Age Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Adults

  • Teens

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Hospitals

  • Standalone Practices

  • Group Practices

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • India

    • Japan

    • China

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE