HOW INVISALIGN REVOLUTIONIZED ORTHODONTICS A Truly Alternative Idea
Like many industry-changing inventions, Invisalign began with one person’s quest to improve technology. Zia Chishti was a student at Stanford and an adult orthodontics patient when he got his braces removed. Getting brackets and wires removed is a time-intensive, cumbersome procedure. As Chishti sat in the chair, he wondered if there was a better way. When the doctor presented him with a retainer, his mind began racing. It was an old-school plastic-and-wire retainer, but it was also the germ of the idea for the plastic aligners that Invisalign is famous for today. After meeting with Kelsey Werth, another Stanford student, the two began to develop prototypes. Eventually, they came upon the idea of custom, 3-D printed clear aligners that would straighten teeth. By 1997, Chishti and Werth founded Align Technology and set to work securing a patent and FDA approval. The Invisalign system hit the market a year later. When the technology was introduced, orthodontists were hesitant to use it. Invisalign was brand-new, developed by people outside of the industry, and unproven. Venture capital companies in Silicon Valley, however, sensed an opportunity. Flush with cash, Invisalign started a marketing campaign designed to win the hearts and minds of not just doctors, but of prospective patients as well. The New York Times called it “the most aggressive consumer advertising plan the dental profession has ever seen.”
Though the product was sound, Invisalign had serious spending issues. They threw away much of the funding they had secured. After a change in leadership, they began to focus on making Invisalign an operable business instead of simply a good idea. Despite an inauspicious start, Invisalign is now regarded as a viable alternative to traditional braces for all but the most severe cases. Because they are clear and removable, they’ve become extremely popular among adults seeking orthodontic treatment. Invisalign has continued to improve their technology, even creating an Invisalign Teen system aimed at adolescents. As patients have come around to Invisalign, so too have dentists and orthodontists. Most dental schools require that students complete Invisalign training before graduation. While traditional braces are still popular, Invisalign is clearly not a flash in the pan. Millions
of patients have experienced great results using the clear aligners, and the number continues to rise. The days of Invisalign’s reputation as a scrappy young startup are long gone. Despite some initial roadblocks, the company has set itself on a clear path to long-term success.
SLOW COOKER RASPBERRY WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE
Train Your
Grid n°970183136 easy BRAIN! Ingredients
• 1 cup white chocolate chips • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk • 2 cups heavy cream, divided • 3 cups milk (any variety will do) • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup
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Directions
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1. In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. 2. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. 3. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. 4. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.
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Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net
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