Are OEM Clear Aligner Manufacturers the Lifeline for the Bracket-and-Wire Industry?

Roughly 60% of all orthodontic treatments worldwide still begin with traditional bracket-and-wire systems – mostly among children and adolescents.

This corresponds to around 12–15 million treatments every year. Despite this impressive volume, the segment accounts for only 24% of the global B2B orthodontic market, representing about USD 1.7 billion.

The picture looks very different in the clear aligner segment:

Aligners already represent about 40% of all new annual treatments yet generate an impressive USD 5.3 billion in B2B revenue.

Even more striking is their growth outlook – aligner treatments are expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% to 22% over the next five years, depending on the research source.

In contrast, the traditional bracket-and-wire business shows diminishing returns, signaling a mature and gradually contracting market.

These dynamics make one thing unmistakably clear: profitability, R&D investment, and innovation are now concentrated in the digital segment.

In recent years, aligner manufacturers have invested heavily in research and development to meet the clinical and biomechanical demands of younger patients.

Today, several companies offer specific product features and software capabilities that make aligner therapy safe, predictable, and efficient even for children and adolescents.

Orthodontics has reached a historic turning point.

For decades, bracket-and-wire systems were considered the undisputed gold standard – precise, controllable, and clinically proven.

And for certain patient groups and provider demographics, they will continue to represent a trusted and effective treatment approach.

Yet the digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped the foundation of orthodontic care: Scans replace impressions. Software replaces manual wire bending. Data replaces wires.

A new generation of technology-driven, innovation-minded orthodontists is redefining what precision and efficiency mean in practice.

For them, digital tools are not an addition to clinical expertise - they are an extension of it.

These digital natives think in virtual workflows, expect seamless system integration, and rely on data-driven decision-making to deliver predictable, reproducible results.

For traditional bracket-and-wire manufacturers, this shift brings enormous technological, economic, and strategic pressure.

They now face a fundamental decision: Either to invest in developing their own clear aligner solution that meets the growing expectations of orthodontists for seamless digital integration, efficient treatment, and predictable clinical outcomes; or to pursue strategic product partnerships that provide faster and more economical access to digital technology, software infrastructure, and biomechanical expertise.

This is where OEM clear aligner manufacturers enter the stage.

They are the silent architects of the new orthodontic industry or the digital transformation partners for those who have underestimated the pace of change for too long.

They provide the technological infrastructure that enables brands, labs, and clinics to implement digitally managed treatment concepts quickly, precisely, and at scale.

Rather than competing, they could become the lifeline of the traditional bracket-and-wire industry, provided that collaboration is embraced.

The central question is therefore:

Will the classic bracket-and-wire industry become part of the digital future through collaboration with OEMs, or remain a spectator in an irreversible paradigm shift?

ConCom Dental supports companies in the dental and orthodontic industries on their path toward digital transformation, from strategic repositioning and OEM partnerships to the implementation of scalable digital business models.

Those who aim to shape the future rather than simply manage change need a partner with deep industry knowledge and vision.

ConCom Dental. Connecting Orthodontics with the Future.