Orthodontic Products spoke with Mitra Derakhshan, DDS, MS, of Align Technology and orthodontist Brian Amy, DDS, MS, about the new ClinCheck Live Plan feature. The tool generates an initial Invisalign treatment plan in about 15 minutes, allowing for same-day approvals and improved practice efficiency.
In October, Align Technology announced ClinCheck Live Plan, a new feature in its digital treatment planning platform that automates the creation of an initial Invisalign treatment plan in about 15 minutes. The update is designed to streamline workflows and enable doctors to review and approve treatment plans while the patient is still in the office.
To better understand the development and impact of this new feature, Orthodontic Products spoke with Mitra Derakhshan, DDS, MS, executive vice president, chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services at Align Technology. In addition to leading Align’s global clinical teams, Derakhshan maintains an orthodontic practice and is a frequent lecturer on clear aligner therapy. She detailed how ClinCheck Live Plan works, the role of AI and automation, and the company’s support strategy for the global rollout in 2026.
Following that conversation, we spoke with Brian Amy, DDS, MS, a board-certified orthodontist in Oklahoma, to get a firsthand look at how the system performs in clinical practice.
Orthodontic Products: What specific challenges or inefficiencies in digital treatment planning prompted the development of ClinCheck Live Plan?
Mitra Derakhshan, DDS, MS: Over the past few years, Align has introduced a range of new treatment planning tools and automation to enhance consistency, doctor control, and speed in treatment planning. These have been key desires of doctors with regards to treatment planning. They want personalization and efficiency but with control and speed so they can make changes quickly and finalize and approve treatment plans while the patient is fresh in mind. ClinCheck Live Plan represents a major technological milestone in the Align Digital Platform that can reduce the Invisalign treatment planning cycle from days to minutes and help doctors treatment plan in the moment. It was developed with the goal of improving practice growth and efficiency, ultimately, giving more time back to doctors. For patients, this means a faster treatment start for patients and better overall experiences.
ClinCheck Live Plan helps doctors with:
- More tools to help with patient understanding and acceptance: Provides relevant treatment plan information helping doctors present treatment plans while patients are still in the office.
- Faster approvals and faster patient delivery of aligners: Empowers doctors to plan treatments in the moment while the patients are top of mind.
- More time back: Reduce the treatment planning cycle wait time and start patients in treatment sooner.
OP: Can you walk me through how the “15-minute” automated plan generation works in practice, and what kind of quality controls are built into that process?
Derakhshan: The process is as follows:
- An Invisalign doctor submits a new case with an iTero intraoral scan and a completed Flex Rx prescription.
- The ClinCheck Live Plan system automatically applies the doctor’s pre-configured clinical preferences (such as an Invisalign Personalized Plan or another preferences template) to create a detailed 3D plan.
- A series of quality checks then verify the treatment plan before it is returned to the doctor for review, typically in approximately 15 minutes.
- Our automated treatment planning system includes multiple quality control layers at different stages in the process that occur before returning the treatment plan to the doctor. Examples of these quality controls include validation of the integrity and completeness of the 3D model, detection of anomalies, and confirmation of key anatomical markers.
When all quality checks are successfully completed, the initial ClinCheck treatment plan is available for doctor review, typically within 15 minutes. If a scan or treatment plan quality check is unsuccessful, a CAD designer will take over and initial plans will generally be available within the standard timeframe set out in our current terms and conditions.
OP: In what ways does ClinCheck Live Plan enhance doctor control or flexibility compared to previous versions of the ClinCheck software?
Derakhshan: Both ClinCheck software and ClinCheck Live Plan are part of the Align Digital Platform. ClinCheck Live Plan is the feature that provides the initial ClinCheck treatment plan so a doctor can more quickly review the proposed tooth movements, make modifications, and approve the plan before aligner production.
What sets ClinCheck Live Plan apart is its ability to provide a fully customized initial ClinCheck treatment plan approximately 15 minutes after submitting an eligible case with Flex Rx. Doctors then have the option to review proposed tooth movements, share relevant information with the patient to educate them and encourage treatment acceptance, and approve a case while the patient is still in the office. This can enable the doctor to receive and approve the treatment plan faster, which can lead to the patient starting Invisalign treatment faster.
ClinCheck Live Plan is the latest treatment planning innovation, delivering initial ClinCheck treatment plans in as little as 15 minutes for eligible cases. It’s a key part of the ClinCheck signature experience, designed to help doctors treatment plan in the moment—while the patient is top of mind or still in the clinic.
OP: What differentiates Align’s approach from other AI-driven planning tools in dentistry?
Derakhshan: Align Technology leverages anonymized data from over 21.4 million Invisalign cases to help Invisalign-trained doctors plan predictable treatment outcomes for their patients. We’re continually innovating and expanding the Align Digital Platform—a unique combination of software, systems, and services designed to provide a seamless experience and end-to-end workflow that integrates and connects all users—doctors, labs, patients, and consumers.
We are innovating with our data and machine learning (ML) models to improve customer and patient experiences during Invisalign treatment planning and throughout Invisalign treatment. Align is committed to responsible artificial intelligence (AI) principles and using AI to provide virtual care solutions that enable our doctors to maintain continuity of care for their patients and also further other oral care diagnostics. We are very excited about the possibilities enabled by image data and AI to further extend oral care capabilities and provide digital solutions to doctors who can then offer great patient experiences and allow for practice scalability—all integrated within the Align Digital Platform.
OP: What kind of feedback or early metrics have you observed from pilot practices using the system so far?
Derakhshan: Continuous feedback from pilot practices highlights strong adoption and enthusiasm, driven by faster turnaround times, improved workflow efficiency, and enhanced clinical control, contributing to better patient experiences. Common feedback includes the following:
- Clinician Control and Real-Time Integration: Doctors can treatment plan in the moment and apply clinical insights immediately, enhancing precision, personalization, and confidence in every plan.
- Speed and Workflow Efficiency: Plans are generated within minutes, enabling same-day approvals and significantly reducing treatment timelines—aligners can be delivered in days instead of weeks.
- Improved Patient Experience: Faster turnaround creates excitement and satisfaction among patients, with fewer appointments and quicker starts to treatment.
- Higher Plan Accuracy & Reduced Revisions: Initial plans are closer to desired outcomes, minimizing back-and-forth adjustments and saving valuable chair time.
OP: How is Align supporting practices during this global rollout to ensure doctors and teams can implement ClinCheck Live Plan effectively?
Derakhshan: Align plans to initiate the global roll-out of ClinCheck Live Plan in Q1 2026. Invisalign trained doctors who use the ClinCheck signature experience with a preferences template and the Flex Rx submission form will have access to ClinCheck Live Plan for eligible products as it becomes available in their region. The launch will be supported by comprehensive training resources, including webinars and how-to guides.
While Derakhshan lays out the clinical and technological framework behind ClinCheck Live Plan, we also wanted to understand how the system functions in day-to-day orthodontic practice. For that perspective, we spoke with Amy, who practices at Orthodontic Associates and is an early adopter of the feature. He describes how the 15-minute treatment plan turnaround has improved case efficiency and allowed him to keep treatment planning within the context of the patient visit. He also discusses how the system’s alignment with his clinical preferences has minimized revisions and strengthened collaboration among his team, making the transition both practical and impactful.
OP: How would you describe your experience transitioning from your previous ClinCheck workflow to ClinCheck Live Plan?
Brian Amy, DDS, MS: My transition from the previous ClinCheck workflow to ClinCheck Live Plan has been seamless and easy. The Live Plans are available almost immediately, which makes reviewing and adjusting cases much more efficient/effective. From the time I leave the examination to the ClinCheck plan approval, it’s seamless. I’m still in the moment all the way from physical diagnosis to digital plan approval.
OP: Has the “15-minute” turnaround time changed how you manage consultations or patient scheduling?
Amy: Yes, the faster turnaround has significantly improved how I manage consultations and scheduling. Because I know the initial ClinCheck plan will be ready within minutes, and will already be closely aligned with my desired setup, I’m confident I can make minor adjustments and approve the case the same day. As a result, we can deliver aligners in as little as 7 to 10 days from the initial consultation.
OP: What has been the patient response when treatment planning happens almost immediately during a visit?
Amy: Patients have been very impressed with the digital workflow—going from scanning to a potential treatment plan in just minutes. It adds excitement to the visit and helps them feel more confident and engaged in starting treatment.
OP: In your experience, how accurate or reliable have the automatically generated initial plans been compared to those created manually?
Amy: The automatically generated initial plans have been very accurate and reliable. Because they’re based on my personal preferences that have been coded, I trust that they’re close to what I want the first time, without worrying about individual interpretation.
OP: Does ClinCheck Live Plan influence collaboration within your orthodontic team—for example, between the doctor, treatment coordinator, and assistants?
Amy: Yes, ClinCheck Live Plan has strengthened collaboration within our team. My team has confidence knowing the initial plan will consistently reflect my treatment planning vision every time, which streamlines communication and decision-making.
OP: What advice would you give to other orthodontists who are considering adopting ClinCheck Live Plan once it becomes available?
Amy: I’d tell other orthodontists that adopting ClinCheck Live Plan is absolutely worth it. Using the latest advances in the digital workflow is extremely efficient and effective, and getting the plan you want much faster is a major benefit. I’d highly recommend it. OP
Opening image: ID 29871153 | 15 Minute © Orcea David | Dreamstime.com. All other images courtesy of Align Technology.
