Company: ALGN
Filing Date: 2025-08-06
Form Type: 10-Q
Source: 0001097149-25-000064
Chunk: 94

Company: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY INC
Filing Date: 2025-08-06
Form: 10-Q
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 94
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 transition, we face competition from companies that seek to introduce new technologies and products and companies that remain dedicated to traditional products and services. As we continue to expand globally, we may see new competition in different geographic regions. We have experienced price-focused competition from competitors in various markets we serve and we anticipate this will continue. We may be unable to compete with these competitors or they may render our technology or products obsolete or economically unattractive, particularly as competitors incorporate artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning into new or existing services and technologies that facilitate changes in doctor-patient interactions, expectations and treatment workflows. We may be unable to devote adequate financial resources to develop or acquire new AI technologies and systems in the future and sufficiently meet evolving industry trends and consumer demands.

The number and types of competitors we face are diverse and growing rapidly. The Invisalign System competes primarily against traditional wires and brackets and increasingly with clear aligners manufactured and distributed by new market entrants and existing competitors, including traditional medical device companies, laboratories, startups and, in some cases, doctors and dental service organizations (“DSOs”). Our competitors also include direct-to-consumer companies that provide clear aligners using a business model requiring little or no in-office care from trained and licensed doctors, and doctors and DSOs who manufacture custom aligners or procure products from third-party white-label providers. Large consumer product companies may also start supplying orthodontic products. Orthodontists, GPs and DSOs have and may continue to sample competitive and alternative products and take advantage of competitive promotions and sale opportunities. Additionally, negative experiences with clear aligner products manufactured and distributed by competitors may adversely affect our reputation and demand for the Invisalign System if consumers, orthodontists, GPs and DSOs attribute these negative experiences to clear aligner therapy generally, even if our products differ significantly in design, quality, and clinical effectiveness from competitive products. 

Our iTero intraoral scanners are also facing increased competition from new and existing competitors. Our scanners compete with polyvinyl siloxane impressions and numerous new or existing intraoral scanners, as well as traditional bite wing 2D dental x-rays and dental imaging systems that leverage near infrared imaging technology for detecting interproximal caries. We experience and may continue to experience competition with our scanners and software solutions by competitors who introduce products at lower prices or with functionality that better meets customer demand, including expansion of their portfolios in the digital ecosystem. If we are unable to compete effectively with existing products, existing competitors, new market entrants,