On August 3, 2023, LightForce Orthodontics, located in Massachusetts, USA, successfully raised USD 80 million (approximately RMB 570 million) through Series D financing. The company is dedicated to providing orthodontists with advanced digital solutions that enable them to provide more precise, personalized, and efficient orthodontic treatment.
The 3D printing dental market has bright prospects
About LightForce Goals
The company plans to use the financing to build a new 36,000-square-foot facility in Massachusetts. The company was founded in 2015 by Dr. Alfred Griffin and Dr. Lou Shuman and began commercial operations in 2020. The company’s goal is to provide orthodontists with a digital platform that will allow them to correct patients’ smiles using fully custom 3D-printed braces. Considering that approximately 4 million people in the U.S. wear braces, and globally between 25% and 53% require orthodontic intervention, according to the Pennsylvania Dental Association, there is a huge need for innovation in this area.
At the same time, LightForce plans to use the latest round of financing to invest more in the development of its artificial intelligence (AI) platform. The platform digitally reconstructs the patient’s anatomy and helps dentists determine optimal tooth positions. This will help doctors more accurately plan treatment and provide better outcomes for patients.
By combining 3D printing and artificial intelligence, LightForce Orthodontics aims to bring more efficient and personalized solutions to the dental industry and promote the development of orthodontics. Their mission is to improve the oral health and confidence of their patients and provide better quality dental care.
LightForce creates 3D-printed brackets for braces, enabling more personalized and effective treatment
3D printing cuts treatment time by 45%
According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, LightForce likens the uniqueness of teeth and jaws to fingerprints and aims to provide a personalized approach to braces without the need for multiple adjustments of wires and braces. Patients using LightForce’s 3D printed brackets experienced 45% shorter treatment times and 41% fewer appointments compared to traditional braces.
The $80 million that LightForce has raised in this round is in addition to the $50 million it raised in its previous Series C round. The funding will help expand the company’s sales and manufacturing operations and provide more jobs.
LightForce provides a personalized digital plan for each patient. This way, doctors can visualize the result and approach treatment in a whole new way
There is no doubt about the fact that 3D printing has become a key technology in the field of dentistry. Compared to many other fields that are still in the early stages of adopting additive manufacturing, 3D technology has already achieved some success in dental applications, and its application will continue to expand. According to Grand View Research, the global dental 3D printing market will reach $2.5 billion in 2022 alone. LightForce recently secured funding to support their 3D printed braces system, reaffirming the health of the market.
