Align Technology Announces Invisalign® System With Mandibular Advancement Featuring Occlusal Blocks for Class II Skeletal and Dental Correction

BANGKOK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 8, 2025--

Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® System of clear aligners, iTero™ intraoral scanners, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry, today announced commercial availability in Thailand of the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks designed specifically to address Class II skeletal and dental correction by simultaneously advancing the mandible while aligning the teeth. This innovative solution is Align’s first clear aligner product with integrated solid occlusal blocks that is designed to deliver predictable mandibular advancement. Invisalign occlusal blocks provide durability, improve engagement, and enable vertical opening to offer earlier advancement of the mandible in cases like skeletal Class II with deep bite to improve treatment efficiency.

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The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks is the latest clinical innovation that expands Align’s Class II treatment portfolio for growing patients by offering practitioners a comprehensive solution for treating growing patients with Class II malocclusions caused by mandibular retrusion. Class II malocclusion is one of the most common orthodontic problems, characterized by a discrepancy in jaw alignment where the lower jaw (mandible) is positioned too far back relative to the upper jaw (maxilla) and represents approximately 30-45% of malocclusions globally. This condition can lead to functional, aesthetic, and other challenges for patients if left untreated.

The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks is primarily intended for growing patients in the late mixed or early permanent dentition stages (ages 10-16), who are still experiencing growth. By leveraging the natural growth potential during pre-adolescence and adolescence, the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks facilitates effective correction of Class II malocclusions, helping to improve occlusal relationships, enhance facial aesthetics, and provide long-term functional benefits, including:

“The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks reflects Align’s continued commitment to expanding the capabilities of the Invisalign System, enabling doctors to treat a wider range of malocclusions with precision and efficiency, and helps to continue to advance clear aligners as the standard of care in digital orthodontics,” said Sreelakshmi Kolli, Align Technology EVP, chief product and digital officer. “This latest innovation demonstrates our significant investment in delivering digital orthodontic solutions to growing patients that empower doctors to achieve predictable outcomes while enhancing the patient experience.”

“The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks represents a breakthrough in Class II treatment with clear aligners by allowing doctors to simultaneously address dental and skeletal discrepancies in a more predictable and efficient manner,” said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align Technology EVP and chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services. “The integration of occlusal blocks enhances mandibular engagement as well as provides bite opening, making this a versatile solution for different Class II malocclusion including deep bite or div 2. The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks, gives doctors and patients a better option for Class II correction in growing patients while simultaneously straightening their teeth, including more options for feature placement, such as attachments on teeth underneath the blocks (3).”

“Treatment outcomes with the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks are on par with traditional Clark Twin Blocks,” said Dr. Ronald Sluiter, an orthodontist practicing in New Zealand who has treated 50 patients to date. “In addition, the enhanced comfort of the Invisalign occlusal blocks increases predictability—because comfort leads to patient compliance—and compliance leads to better outcomes.”

“Class II correction in growing patients is smooth sailing with the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks,” said Dr. Steve Semaan, an orthodontist practicing in Australia. “The patients instinctively know how to bite, and it works so I don’t see any crushed blocks. The fact that we see no crushing issues means patients can keep moving through treatment without any delays or additional appointments.”

“I’m very happy with the new Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks design,” said Dr. Belinda Weltman, Vancouver, Canada. “Patients can bite down easily without risk of damaging or distorting the blocks, and the mandibular advanced position is easy to maintain. My young patients have found it very easy to transition to this appliance with minimal discomfort, and compliance has been a breeze."

“The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks provides the ideal block engagement that helps hold the mandible in the proper position for patients that also have mandibular asymmetry. This allows for more efficient corrections when desired,” said Dr. Francis Janisse, Windsor, Canada. “Invisalign system with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks remove the need for auxiliary elastics, which removes one more obstacle for patients. In addition, the trays do not require palatal coverage like traditional removable Class II correctors, and there are no changes in the insertion and removal process of the aligners. My younger patients love the ability to remove the aligners for eating, which is not commonly an option for patients that require fixed Class II correctors or elastics.”

The Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks is now commercially available to Invisalign-trained doctors in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines. Along with the Invisalign® Palatal Expander System, Invisalign First™ and Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks, this latest innovation supports the commitment to establishing a unique and differentiated portfolio that supports growing patients throughout their continuum of care.

For more information about the Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks, or to schedule a training session, please visit www.invisalign.co.th or contact your local Align Technology representative.

1. Compared to Invisalign aligners previously made from single-layer (EX30) material.
2. Studies show that patient discomfort with functional appliances affect patient compliance with the prescribed wear time and could lead to unsatisfactory outcomes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34949565/
3. In some cases, attachments may be removed on teeth under occlusal blocks due to interferences with other features.

About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® System, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for approximately 291.0 thousand doctor customers and are key to accessing Align’s 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 28 years, Align has helped doctors treat over 21.4 million patients with the Invisalign System and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align™ Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.

For additional information about the Invisalign System or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.co.th. For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com/en-APAC. For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com.

Invisalign, iTero, exocad, Align, Align Digital Platform, and iTero Lumina are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc.

The Invisalign® System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks is the latest clinical innovation that expands Align’s Class II treatment portfolio for growing patients by offering practitioners a comprehensive solution for treating growing patients with Class II malocclusions caused by mandibular retrusion.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve reduced its key interest rate by a quarter-point for the third time in a row Wednesday but signaled that it may leave rates unchanged in the coming months.

Chair Jerome Powell signaled at a news conference that the Fed would likely hold off on further rate cuts in the coming months while it evaluated the health of the economy. And in a set of quarterly economic projections, Fed officials signaled they expect to lower rates just once next year.

Wednesday's cut reduced the rate to about 3.6%, the lowest it has been in nearly three years. Lower rates from the Fed can bring down borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards over time, though market forces can also affect those rates.

Fed officials “will carefully evaluate the incoming data," Powell said, adding that the Fed is “well positioned to wait to see how the economy evolves.” The chair also said that the Fed’s key rate was close to a level that neither restricts nor stimulates the economy.

Three Fed officials dissented from the move, the most dissents in six years and a sign of deep divisions on a committee that traditionally works by consensus. Two officials voted to keep the Fed's rate unchanged, while Stephen Miran, whom Trump appointed in September, voted for a half point cut.

December’s meeting could usher in a more contentious period for the Fed. Officials are split between those who support reducing rates to bolster hiring and those who’d prefer to keep rates unchanged because inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target. Unless inflation shows clear signs of coming fully under control, or unemployment worsens, those divisions will likely remain.

“What you see is some people feel we should stop here and we’re in the right place and should wait, and some people think we should cut more next year,” Powell said. He did rule out a rate hike next year.

Trump on Wednesday criticized the cut as too small, and said he would have preferred “at least double.” The president could name a new Fed chair as soon as later this month to replace Powell when his term ends in May. Trump’s new chair is likely to push for sharper rate cuts than many officials may support.

Stocks jumped in response to the Fed's move, in part because some Wall Street investors expected Powell to be more forceful in shutting down the possibility of future cuts. The broad S&P 500 stock index rose 0.7% and closed near an all-time high reached in October.

Powell was also optimistic about the economy's growth next year, and said that consumer spending remains resilient while companies are still investing in artificial intelligence infrastructure. He also suggested growing worker efficiency could boost growth as well.

A stark sign of the Fed’s divisions was the wide range of cuts that the 19 members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee penciled in for 2026. Seven projected no cuts next year, while eight forecast that the central bank would implement two or more reductions. Four supported just one. Only 12 out of 19 members vote on rate decisions.

The Fed met against the backdrop of elevated inflation that has frustrated many Americans, with prices higher for groceries, rents, and utilities. Consumer prices have jumped 25% in the five years since COVID.

“We hear loud and clear how people are experiencing really high costs," Powell said Wednesday. "A lot of that isn’t the current rate of inflation, a lot of that is imbedded high costs due to higher inflations in 2022-2023.”

In a delayed report last week, the government said the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge remained high in September, with both overall and core prices rising 2.8% from a year earlier. That is far below the spikes in inflation three years ago but still painful for many households after the big run-up since 2020.

The Fed typically keeps its key rate elevated to combat inflation, while it often reduces borrowing costs when unemployment worsens to spur more spending and hiring.

Adding to the Fed's challenges, job gains have slowed sharply this year and the unemployment rate has risen for three straight months to 4.4%. While that is still a low rate historically, it is the highest in four years. Layoffs are also muted, so far, as part of what many economists call a “low hire, low fire” job market.

Still, Powell said the committee reduced borrowing costs out of concern that the job market is even weaker than it appears. While government data shows that the economy has added just 40,000 jobs a month since April, Powell said that figure could be revised lower by as much as 60,000, which would mean employers have actually been shedding an average of 20,000 jobs a month since the spring.

“It’s a labor market that seems to have significant downside risks," Powell told reporters. "People care about that. That’s their jobs.”

At the same time, Powell noted that there are signs inflation is continuing to cool. Tariffs have made many goods more expensive, but that could peak early next year, he said, while the cost of services — hotel rooms, entertainment, and restaurant meals — has been flat.

“If you get away from tariffs, inflation is in the low 2s," Powell said, near the Fed's target.

The lack of economic data since the government shutdown ended Nov. 13 has contributed to the divisions at the Fed. But when Fed officials next meet in late January, they’ll have up to three months of backlogged reports to consider. If those figures show that the job market has worsened, the Fed could reduce rates again in January.

By contrast, if hiring has stabilized while inflation remains elevated, they may hold off on additional cuts for several months.

Powell will preside over only three more Fed meetings before he steps down. He was asked about his legacy.

“I really want to turn this job over to whoever replaces me with the economy in really good shape,” he said. "I want inflation to be under control, coming back down to 2%, and I want the labor market to be strong.”

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

FILE _ Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at a news conference after the Federal Open Market Committee meeting Oct. 29, 2025, at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)