The company showcased upcoming additions to the Invisalign system, including new attachment systems, integrated buttons, and a palatal expander update.
Align Technology shared highlights from its 2026 Invisalign EMEA Ortho Summit, held May 14 to 16 in Barcelona, Spain, which gathered approximately 400 orthodontists and dental professionals. The event focused on next-generation digital technologies designed to address complex clinical indications and improve treatment precision and practice efficiency.
“By bringing together Align integrated digital solutions and real-world clinical insights, the Invisalign EMEA Ortho Summit brought the region together, and provided an opportunity to collaborate with experts, expand clinical confidence, and share our latest innovations,” says David Carr, executive vice president and managing director, EMEA at Align Technology, in a release.
Upcoming Invisalign Innovations
The summit featured an Innovation Hub that previewed several solutions expected by mid-2026, many of which Align recently introduced at the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session earlier this month. These include the Invisalign Specifix Attachment System, a 3D-printed attachment solution that uses a novel bonding accessory to reduce variability in size and placement and streamline workflows.
Also previewed were Invisalign integrated buttons, which incorporate button planning directly into the ClinCheck treatment planning workflow. This digital approach determines button type and position within the software, aiming to reduce chairside guesswork and improve placement accuracy for bite correction.
Align also introduced the Invisalign Palatal Expander with integrated hook features. This update adds forward- and backward-facing hooks compatible with elastics to the existing 3D-printed expander system to treat a broader range of patients.
Additionally, a custom trimline option for Invisalign clear aligners will give doctors more control over gingival margins, allowing for an extended scalloped trimline in cases requiring more retention. Attendees also received early access to the company’s new 3D Soft Tissue Animation technology.
“Invisalign integrated buttons and the Specifix attachment system will take things that have traditionally required a lot of manual steps and variability and make them far more straightforward and consistent,” says Prof Dr Anton Demling, an orthodontist based in Uelzen, Germany, in a release. “That means less guesswork for teams, more predictable outcomes, and a noticeably better experience for patients.”
Palatal Expander Clinical Validation
During the event, Align highlighted independent validation of the Invisalign Palatal Expander. A clinical study conducted by researchers at the University of Insubria in Italy found that the device effectively widens the upper jaw by opening the natural growth seam in the palate.
According to the company, the study reported that the system achieves bone and bite changes similar to a traditional metal Hyrax expander while delivering more controlled and predictable results for growing patients.
Global Manufacturing Expansion
In addition to rolling out new clinical innovations, Align Technology recently announced plans to expand its global operations with a new multi-million dollar manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, India. The company expects to invest approximately $200 million over the next several years to build the state-of-the-art site, which is slated to open in 2027 and create over 300 direct jobs.
The Hyderabad location will be Align’s first manufacturing presence in India and its fourth globally. According to the company, the investment reflects its strategy to scale operations in high-growth markets, strengthen supply chain resilience, and provide more localized support to Invisalign-trained doctors and their patients across the Asia-Pacific region.
Photo: Align Technology
