The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) and the Minnesota Oral Health Coalition (MOHC) will host the Oral Health Showcase, an inaugural exhibit of oral health programs and organizations at the Minnesota State Capitol on March 12, 2020, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The Showcase will take place in the L'Etoile du Nord Vault, Room B15, at the Capitol.

The Oral Health Showcase is an opportunity to bring awareness about the importance of oral health, and to "showcase" a number of Minnesota's oral health organizations and clinics. Open to everyone, the Oral Health Showcase is a unique opportunity for legislators, staff, and visitors at the Capitol time to meet with important oral health organizations in one place.  A sample of the organizations include the University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry, Children's Dental Services, Northern Dental Access Center, Mission of Mercy, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, and Mayo Clinic.

Cavities (tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don't. In Minnesota, two out of every 10 third graders in public schools have untreated tooth decay. About one of five children ages 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth and one of seven adolescents ages 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth. In addition, children ages 5 to 19 years from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households. 10.3% of Minnesota adults ages 65 and older have had all their natural, permanent teeth removed due to tooth decay or gum disease. 62.2% of Minnesota adults ages 65 and older have had at least one natural, permanent tooth removed due to tooth decay or gum disease.

The MDA and the MOHC are thrilled to create The Oral Health Showcase, a new and innovative forum joining oral health stakeholders and staff and visitors to the Minnesota Capitol.

Acurity (now a part of Premier Inc.) has recommitted to TriState Dental for another two-year term as contracted supplier for dental supplies, equipment and service within its Group Purchasing Program portfolio.

The Acurity Group Purchasing Program provides its broad membership with access to national and international suppliers as well as strategic regional partners that offer compelling value and individualized customer service.

TriState’s program was first introduced in April 2018, launching a wide range of solutions and new benefits for Acurity member facilities that offer dental services. Through this beneficial agreement, members receive negotiated contract pricing on major dental supply product lines, capital dental equipment, dental software and technology services, as well as dental equipment repair & maintenance.

“This contract renewal is affirmation of our close relationship and strong coordination with Acurity’s business solutions and executive teams. They have helped us to model a platform that speaks directly to the needs of their member dental clinicians, while also allowing us to adeptly respond to changes and opportunities unique to each facility. Our program is built to benefit members’ bottom line and to maximize operating resources. Now that Acurity has joined with Premier Inc., we look forward to expanding upon the integration of dental as a supply chain benefit and to further extending the support and services we can now provide to their members.”

“Acurity has long prided itself on its ability to contract with entrepreneurial companies, like TriState that recognize that the Acurity business model drives growth and shortens sales cycles for suppliers who can offer a compelling value proposition,” affirmed Bob Karcher, vice president of contract services for Acurity. “We are happy to include TriState’s catalog of dental products, equipment and services to our portfolio and TriState’s value to our members.”

YOUR PARTNER IN EVERYTHING

Serving the dental community for over 25 years, TriState Dental Supplies & Equipment is one of the fastest-growing independent, authorized dental suppliers in the U.S. with sales offices and equipment showrooms in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. For more information visit www.tristatedental.com.

ABOUT ACURITY

With a member base of more than 300 acute care facilities, Acurity helps its members deliver better patient care while reducing operating expenses.  As a company comprised of healthcare people, Acurity’s success is driven by its close working relationships with providers and its extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry and mutually beneficial relationships with quality suppliers. www.acurity.com

In support of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #EachforEqual, Dentsply Sirona continues to promote gender equality in the dental industry and oral health sector. Every year, the company sponsors a variety of programs and events dedicated to the career advancement and leadership of women in dentistry. This support ranges from hosting awards events, which honor visionary treatment solutions and outstanding achievements in research, to providing networking opportunities and knowledge exchange through panel discussions and conferences.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme highlights the importance of gender equality as a catalyst for thriving economies and communities. Under the hashtag #EachforEqual, this year’s campaign emphasizes how individual and collective efforts can contribute to empowering women in society. As the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, Dentsply Sirona is committed to advancing women’s interests in the dental and oral health sector.

“We want to empower all women in dentistry by supporting their professional development and recognizing their outstanding achievements in research and development, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and education,” says Dr. Terri Dolan, Chief Clinical Officer and Vice President at Dentsply Sirona. “As part of our mission, we support several programs for the advancement of women dentists, hygienists, and technicians within the dental industry.” Examples of programs and events supported by Dentsply Sirona in 2019 and 2020 follow.

Smart Integration Award

The Smart Integration Award celebrates women’s expertise in dentistry by recognizing their innovative ideas and successful and visionary treatment concepts that elevate networked treatment centers to the next level. In November 2019, the awards ceremony was hosted for the first time by Dentsply Sirona as part of the Company’s commitment to integrate women’s expertise more closely into the development of new products. In total, 24 winners were honored for their creative ideas and impressive success stories that make work processes at treatment centers more efficient and convenient.

Women in Science Network Awards

Research and innovation are at the forefront of Dentsply Sirona’s purpose and mission to empower dental professionals all over the world to provide millions of patients with better dental care and make people smile. Dentsply Sirona is proud to be the sponsor of two International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Women in Science Awards. The Distinguished Female Mentor award recognizes female researchers who have made a significant impact on the careers of fellow female researchers through their role as a mentor. The Award for Distinguished Research recognizes female scientists for outstanding accomplishments in oral, dental or craniofacial research. Dentsply Sirona is honored in 2020 to sponsor these awards for a second year.

2019 ADEA International Women's Leadership Conference

Celebrating female leadership is an important pillar for the empowerment of women in the dental industry. Dentsply Sirona co-sponsored the 6th International Women’s Leadership Conference in Brescia, Italy, hosted by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). Promoting female leadership within the health sector, the conference brought together 120 women from 23 countries to tell their stories and share knowledge.

Women in Dentistry (WID) Breakfast

Dentsply Sirona co-sponsors the annual WID Breakfast hosted each year by the AEGIS Dental Network and other industry partners. With 130 participants, the event aims to raise industry leaders’ awareness of women in dentistry, as well as highlight their roles as speakers at conferences and other industry events. Initially focused on the laboratory side of the business, the breakfast has expanded over the years to include women from all areas of dentistry and oral healthcare.

Annual GNYDM Women Dentists´ Leadership Conference

Dr. Terri Dolan, Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at Dentsply Sirona, was invited to speak at the 1st Women Dentists Leadership Conference at the Greater New York Dental Meeting (GNYDM) on December 1, 2019. The meeting was created to empower and mentor current and future women dentists. Dolan enjoys sharing her experience and inspiring career in dental research and education, having served as professor and dean of the University of Florida College of Dentistry for more than a decade before joining Dentsply Sirona. Recognized for her advocacy of diversity and support for women in dentistry, she inspired conference attendees with her presentation on mentorship, leading by example and mentoring others. She had the opportunity to share stories about the people who inspired and mentored her throughout her career.

Leading by example: excellence in innovation and education

In October 2019, Dolan’s outstanding accomplishments in clinical education were honored with the Dr. Edward B. Shils Innovator Award for Excellence in Industry. As the leader of Dentsply Sirona’s Clinical Affairs team, Dolan is the driving force behind the conceptualization and implementation of the Company’s global clinical education program. In 2019, the program reached more than 470,000 dental professionals from 99 countries. The Clinical Affairs team also focuses on the development of new products and solutions designed to empower dentists, technicians and dental team members to provide the best possible care to their patients.

About Dentsply Sirona

Dentsply Sirona is the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, with over a century of innovation and service to the dental industry and patients worldwide. Dentsply Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets comprehensive solutions offering including dental and oral health products as well as other consumable medical devices under a strong portfolio of world class brands. Dentsply Sirona’s products provide innovative, high-quality and effective solutions to advance patient care and deliver better and safer dental care. Dentsply Sirona’s headquarter is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company’s shares are listed in the United States on NASDAQ under the symbol XRAY.

Visit www.dentsplysirona.com for more information about Dentsply Sirona and its products. 

The Georgia Dental Association Foundation for Oral Health (GDAF) has launched "Healthy Mouth, Healthy Me!," a new effort to educate Georgians about the connection between dental health and overall health. The campaign, which rolls out today on National Dentist's Day, tells the stories of real Georgians and how regular dental visits help keep them healthy.

Visiting your dentist regularly can prevent many oral health issues and can show signs of other diseases and medical conditions that have symptoms in the mouth. Regular visits allow dentists to monitor your dental health and can help prevent minor issues from becoming larger problems.

Not enough Georgians go to the dentist regularly, even though 92 percent say they value a healthy mouth and believe those visits are necessary for good oral health. Only 55 percent of Georgians with private dental benefits coverage have seen a dentist in the past 12 months.*

"The Georgia Dental Association (GDA) and its Foundation created the 'Healthy Mouth, Healthy Me!' campaign to stress how regular dental visits can help spot dental health problems early on when treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable," says Frank J. Capaldo, executive director of the GDA.

A new website, HealthyMouthHealthyMe.org, will showcase the stories of real Georgians and how regular dental visits keep them healthy and smiling. A social media component on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will reach residents online, and dentists will have new materials to raise awareness of the connection between oral health and overall health.

Deana Bohannon goes to the dentist to prevent problems with her teeth and ensure she has teeth that last a lifetime. She says, "My mother had dentures and I know how difficult life can be without your own teeth. By visiting my dentist regularly, I can keep my mouth healthy and handle any problems that arise before they become something bigger." Bohannon has been seeing her GDA member dentist, Dr. Robin Reich, for the past eight years.

Dentists today focus on providing patients up-to-date care in a comfortable environment. "Dentistry is changing all the time," says Reich. "Advances in dental care and technologies are making treatments more effective, allowing us to diagnose and treat problems more efficiently and often with less pain."

Symptoms of oral cancer and diabetes are among the most common that can appear in the mouth. In addition, more than 125 diseases or health problems may be affected by oral health. They may include cardiovascular disease, dementia, respiratory infections, pregnancy complications, infertility, erectile dysfunction, kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

The poor condition of a person's mouth and teeth can lead to other issues as well. Those include taking days off from work, reduced social participation, difficulty with speech, problems sleeping, and anxiety.

By the Numbers

     • 25% of adults avoid smiling due to the condition of their mouth and teeth

     • 13% of adults say the appearance of their mouth and teeth affects their ability to interview for jobs

     • 30% of adults experienced pain due to the condition of their mouth and teeth

     • 25% of Georgians cite fear as one of the top reasons for not seeing a dentist regularly

The GDA has an updated list of all member dentists in Georgia at HealthyMouthHealthyMe.org. The site enables potential patients to select a dentist based on location and specialty. Visit HealthyMouthHealthyMe.org to find a dentist near you.

About the Georgia Dental Association Foundation for Oral Health

The GDA Foundation for Oral Health works to advance oral health in Georgia by providing immediate and ongoing access to dental care; championing oral health education in the community; and challenging patients, policymakers, and dental professionals to work together to improve the oral health of all Georgians.

About the Georgia Dental Association

The Georgia Dental Association (GDA) is the state's leading professional association representing dentists in Georgia. The premier source of oral health information in Georgia, GDA has promoted the highest standards of dentistry through education, advocacy and professionalism since 1859. A constituent of the American Dental Association, GDA is based in Atlanta.  More at www.gadental.org.

* "Georgia's Oral Health Care System." Oral Health Care System | Georgia State Fact Sheet (Infographic), www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/oral-health-care-system/georgia-facts.

DenMat Holdings, LLC (“DenMat”), today announced that it has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Henry Schein Canada., a subsidiary of Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the world’s largest provider of health care solutions to office-based dental and medical practitioners. Under the new agreement, effective March 2, 2020, Henry Schein Canada will assume sales, customer service, and fulfillment activities for all DenMat’s professional products in Canada.

“We are very pleased to be working with Henry Schein as our exclusive partner in Canada,” said David Casper, CEO of DenMat. “Its market-leading position and best-in-class customer service makes them the ideal partner for our dental customers and our company.”

This new distribution agreement will complement DenMat’s existing sales team in Canada, who will continue to support the existing customer base while introducing new dentists to the company’s wide range of restorative and preventive solutions.

“Our team is very pleased that DenMat has chosen Henry Schein as its exclusive distribution partner. We are excited to expand our one-stop shopping experience for our customers with the full array of high-quality, innovative DenMat products,” said Prashant Ohri, Vice President and General Manager of Henry Schein Canada. “We look forward to working closely with DenMat to grow our mutual business in Canada.”

About DenMat

Since 1974, DenMat is a leader in high-quality dental products for dental professionals around the world. DenMat makes and assembles most of its products at its world headquarters on the Central Coast of California. DenMat offers three main product categories: Consumables, Small Equipment, and a Dental Laboratory. DenMat's consumables include brands that are known and trusted, including Fluoridex®, Geristore®, Core Paste®, Tenure®, Ultra-Bond®, Infinity®, Splash Max®, Precision®, Perfectemp®, Atridox® and LumiSmile White®. DenMat's small equipment offering includes a broad range of products, including NV® PRO3 and SOL® soft-tissue diode lasers, the Rotadent® power toothbrush, PeriOptix® magnification loupes and lights, Flashlite® curing lights and a full line of high-quality Hartzell® hand instruments. DenMat is also home to Lumineers®, the world's #1 patient-requested thin veneer, and Snap-On Smile®, the life-changing removable appliance.

Grind Guard Technologies introduces its evolved anti-bruxing device for professional use. Inspired by the NTI design, GrindReliefN does not require models, laboratory fees, nor multiple appointments.

Invented and patented by a dentist who also suffered, the GrindReliefN features a Central Power Bar, to prevent bite-through, and reduce muscle activity by 60% or more.

The Power Bar creates pressure on the upper and lower mid-line at the same time; the device doubles the beneficial mechanism of action of the NTI device.

It can be fitted to upper or lower arches, can be re-fitted as needed, has a 3-year wear guarantee and FDA clearance. This device can be billed as any other bruxing appliance or splint.

GrindReliefN is offered to the profession at quantity discounts, instructive videos are available at the company website, and a free sample is available by telephone.

www.grindreliefn.com

Colgate® Announces Recipients of the Colgate Award for Research Excellence (CARE)

Colgate is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Colgate Award for Research Excellence (CARE). The CARE Program recognizes a new generation of academic researchers by providing up to $30,000 USD (per project) to support oral health research projects across multiple disciplines.

The five junior faculty members chosen to receive this year’s awards are:

     Amy Killeen, DDS, MS – University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Dentistry

     “The effect of local cannabidiol on clinical and inflammatory outcomes in periodontal maintenance patients”

     Danielle Wu, PhD – The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

     “Salivary Avatars for Screening Stimulants and Sialogogues”

     Robert Shields, PhD – University of Florida, College of Dentistry

     “Development of new anti-caries therapeutics using a CRISPR interference platform”

     Rosalyn Sulyanto, DMD, MS – Boston Children’s Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School

     “The Oral Microbiota of Children Treated with the ECC Chronic Disease Management Protocol”

     Shaoping Zhang, DDS, MS, PhD – University of Iowa, College of Dentistry

     “Identifying Signature Inflammatory Mediators In Gingival Crevicular Fluid in Periodontal Profile Class-stages”

Proposals were reviewed by an independent, esteemed group of senior academic dental researchers. Winners were selected based on program criteria, which included innovation, clinical significance, originality, and scientific quality. CARE grants are typically offered for periods of 12 months.

“The CARE Program fosters the development of junior faculty by providing seed research funding to emerging leaders in academia at a time in their career path when it is most needed,” said Maria Ryan, Vice President and Chief Dental Officer, Global Technology at Colgate. “Every year, we look forward to meeting and supporting talented researchers in the early stages of their careers. We are pleased to fund innovative projects that promise to advance industry knowledge and perhaps even revolutionize the field of dentistry. On behalf of Colgate, sincere congratulations to the winners of this year’s grant awards.”

Established in 2016, the Colgate CARE Program is designed to foster and provide financial support to young academic researchers. In order to be eligible for the Colgate CARE grant, faculty applicants must be in the first five years of an academic appointment.

For more information about the Colgate CARE Program for Young Academic Researchers and application guidelines, or visit https://www.colgateprofessional.com/care-program (USA) or www.colgateprofessional.ca/en-ca/care-program(Canada).

ABOUT COLGATE-PALMOLIVE

About Colgate-Palmolive: Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. With more than 34,000 people and its products sold in over 200 countries and territories, Colgate is known for household names such as Colgate, Palmolive, Elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Hello, Sorriso, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex, Filorga, EltaMD, PCA Skin, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. The Company is also recognized for its leadership and innovation in promoting environmental sustainability and community wellbeing, including its achievements in saving water, reducing waste, promoting recyclability and improving the oral health of children through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached more than one billion children since 1991. For more information about Colgate’s global business and how the Company is building a future to smile about, visit https://www.colgatepalmolive.com.

University of Pennsylvania study also determines most effective polishing protocol

DMG America announced that a new study of dental restorative material polishability completed at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine is now available on its website.

The study, completed by Dr. Yin, Dr. Conejo and Dr. Blatz, evaluated the post-polishing surface roughness and the efficacy of polishing protocols of four dental materials, including the new LuxaCrown® semi-permanent crown and bridge material by DMG. The authors concluded that LuxaCrown’s surface roughness was statistically identical to that of the other three materials.

Access the study now.

Two polishing protocols were evaluated in the study:

   • 2-step method:

        1. Gray polisher

        2. Goat hair chamois white stiff brush

   • 3-step method:

        1. Gray polisher

        2. Goat hair chamois white stiff brush

        3. Felt cloth wheel buff and composite paste

The study concluded that the 3-step method was significantly more effective than the 2-step method.

Learn more about LuxaCrown the revolutionary semi-permanent crown and bridge material.

About DMG

DMG manufactures and distributes market-leading restorative materials and preventive products that are internationally recognized for their quality and innovation. Known for breakthrough material technology, including flagship products Luxatemp® and LuxaCore Z Dual, the revolutionary Icon® resin infiltrant, and the new LuxaCrown® semi-permanent crown and bridge material, DMG is committed to helping the dental profession meet its materials needs through innovation, collaboration and dedication. For more information about DMG products, or to find a sales representative, please visit online at https://www.dmg-america.com, or call (800) 662-6383.

Align Technology, Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held exocad Global Holdings GmbH for approximately €376 million in cash. exocad is a global leader in the dental CAD/CAM software market and offers fully integrated workflows to dental laboratories and dental practices via a broad customer base of partners, and resellers in more than 150 countries.

The acquisition of exocad strengthens the Align digital platform that delivers innovative tools and features for diagnostic, restorative, implant, and orthodontic workflows. The acquisition brings exocad’s expertise in restorative dentistry, implantology, guided surgery, and smile design to the Align technology portfolio, extending Align’s Invisalign and iTero digital solutions and paving the way for new, seamless cross-discipline dentistry in laboratories and at chairside. exocad also broadens Align’s platform reach in digital dentistry with close to 200 partners and more than 35,000 licenses installed worldwide.

“Dentistry today is evolving digitally, with technology advances and consumer awareness driving new opportunities in ortho-restorative and comprehensive treatment. Align is in a unique position to lead the digital transformation of dentistry by reimagining comprehensive treatment planning and by reinventing the way orthodontists and GPs practice with our digital platform for transforming smiles,” said Joe Hogan, Align Technology president and CEO. “exocad allows us to broaden and deepen Align’s digital platform by addressing restorative needs in our end-to-end digital platform that facilitate ortho-restorative and comprehensive dentistry and accelerates adoption of Invisalign treatment among the more than 300 million potential patients worldwide.”

This acquisition is a natural next step in the collaboration between Align and exocad that started in 2017 with the seamless integration of Align’s iTero intraoral scanners and exocad Chairside CAD software. The collaboration later expanded to a fully-validated workflow that enabled in-house milling of dental restoration on any compatible milling machine, and most recently, at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting 2020, the announcement of the unique exocad Connector.

“I am excited by the enormous growth opportunity for exocad and its customers that comes with being a part of Align Technology,” said Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO and co-founder of exocad. “Together, we will further strengthen exocad’s position as a key technology provider for the dental CAD/CAM industry and drive continuous innovation with the open and integrated approach that is the foundation of our company.”

exocad will continue to operate as it exists today, enabling it to support a broad ecosystem of partners and end-users and continue to deliver hardware-independent software solutions. Steinbrecher and co-founder Maik Gerth, along with their team, are expected to remain after the transaction closes and report to John Morici, Align Technology, senior vice president and CFO.

“The acquisition of exocad adds a talented and passionate team as well as a highly innovative, industry-leading product suite to our portfolio, providing an excellent complement to our current workflow solutions,” said Morici. “We will continue to invest in and build on exocad’s leadership in the dental CAD/CAM market and look to them to make significant contributions to Align’s overall strategy.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Align will pay approximately €376 million in cash to acquire exocad, which is majority owned by Carlyle Europe Technology Partners (CETP.) The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2020. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Align. UBS Investment Bank is serving as exclusive financial advisor to exocad and funds managed or advised by CETP.

Align anticipates that the acquisition of exocad is expected to be gross margin accretive, reflecting the strength of exocad’s software business. We expect GAAP EPS to be dilutive for the fiscal year 2020, due to acquisition-related costs.

SAN JOSE, Calif. and DARMSTADT, Germany, March 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Align Technology, Inc. (Align) (Nasdaq: ALGN) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held exocad Global Holdings GmbH (exocad) for approximately EUR376 million in cash. exocad is a global leader in the dental CAD/CAM software market and offers fully integrated workflows to dental labs and dental practices via a broad customer base of partners, and resellers in over 150 countries.

The acquisition of exocad strengthens the Align digital platform that delivers innovative tools and features for diagnostic, restorative, implant, and orthodontic workflows. The acquisition brings exocad’s expertise in restorative dentistry, implantology, guided surgery, and smile design to the Align technology portfolio, extending Align’s Invisalign and iTero digital solutions and paving the way for new, seamless cross-discipline dentistry in lab and at chairside. exocad also broadens Align’s platform reach in digital dentistry with close to 200 partners and more than 35,000 licenses installed worldwide.

“Dentistry today is evolving digitally, with technology advances and consumer awareness driving new opportunities in ortho-restorative and comprehensive treatment. Align is in a unique position to lead the digital transformation of dentistry by reimagining comprehensive treatment planning and by reinventing the way orthodontists and GPs practice with our digital platform for transforming smiles,” said Joe Hogan, Align Technology president and CEO. “exocad allows us to broaden and deepen Align’s digital platform by addressing restorative needs in our end-to-end digital platform that facilitate ortho-restorative and comprehensive dentistry and accelerates adoption of Invisalign treatment among the more than 300 million potential patients worldwide.”

This acquisition is a natural next step in the collaboration between Align and exocad that started in 2017 with the seamless integration of Align’s iTero intraoral scanners and exocad Chairside CAD software.  The collaboration later expanded to a fully-validated workflow that enabled in-house milling of dental restoration on any compatible milling machine, and most recently, at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting 2020, we announced the unique exocad Connector.

“I am excited by the enormous growth opportunity for exocad and its customers that comes with being a part of Align Technology,” said Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO and co-founder of exocad. “Together, we will further strengthen exocad’s position as a key technology provider for the dental CAD/CAM industry and drive continuous innovation with the open and integrated approach that is the foundation of our company.”

exocad will continue to operate as it exists today, enabling it to support a broad ecosystem of partners and end-users and continue to deliver hardware-independent software solutions. exocad co-founders Tillmann Steinbrecher and Maik Gerth, along with their team, are expected to remain after the transaction closes and report into John Morici, Align Technology, senior vice president and CFO.

“The acquisition of exocad adds a talented and passionate team as well as a highly innovative, industry-leading product suite to our portfolio, providing an excellent complement to our current workflow solutions,” said Morici. “We will continue to invest in and build on exocad’s leadership in the dental CAD/CAM market and look to them to make significant contributions to Align’s overall strategy.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Align will pay approximately EUR376 million in cash to acquire exocad, which is majority owned by Carlyle Europe Technology Partners (CETP.) The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2020. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Align. UBS Investment Bank is serving as exclusive financial advisor to exocad and funds managed or advised by CETP.

Align anticipates that the acquisition of exocad is expected to be gross margin accretive, reflecting the strength of exocad’s software business. We expect GAAP EPS to be dilutive for the fiscal year 2020, due to acquisition-related costs.

Align Web Cast and Conference Call

Align will host a conference call today, March 4, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. PT, to discuss the acquisition of exocad. The conference call will also be web cast live via the Internet.  To access the webcast, go to the “Events & Presentations” section under Company Information on Align’s Investor Relations web site at https://investor.aligntech.com.  To access the conference call, please dial 201-689-8261. An archived audio web cast will be available beginning approximately one hour after the call's conclusion and will remain available for approximately one month. Additionally, a telephonic replay of the call can be accessed by dialing 877-660-6853 with conference number 13699954 followed by #. For international callers, please dial 201-612-7415 and use the same conference number referenced above. The telephonic replay will be available through 5:30 p.m. ET on March 18, 2020.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures including, non-GAAP gross profit, gross margin, operating expenses, income from operations, operating margin, effective tax rate, net income and diluted EPS, which exclude certain items that may not be indicative of our fundamental operating performance including discrete cash and non-cash charges or gains that are included in the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Non-GAAP measures may exclude the effects of acquisition related costs such as amortization of acquired intangibles and certain other transaction-related costs, stock-based compensation, non-cash deferred tax assets and associated amortization related to intra-entity transfer of non-inventory assets, impairments and other (gains) charges, and litigation settlement gains, and, if applicable, any associated tax impacts.

We use non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our recurring core operating performance. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal evaluation of period-to-period comparisons. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors both because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision-making and (2) they are provided to and used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the performance of our business.

There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures, though, because they are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The non-GAAP financial measures are limited in value because they exclude certain items that may have a material impact upon our reported financial results. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which charges are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures. We compensate for these limitations by analyzing current and future results on a GAAP as well as a non-GAAP basis and also by providing GAAP measures in our public disclosures. The presentation of non-GAAP financial information is meant to be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or in isolation from, the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We urge investors to review the reconciliation of our GAAP financial measures to the comparable Non-GAAP financial measures as presented, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see https://investor.aligntech.com/index.php/static-files/3303d8d7-163b-42f1-8856-9468f474428a.

About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, and iTero® intraoral scanners and services. Align’s products help dental professionals achieve the clinical results they expect and deliver effective, cutting-edge dental options to their patients. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.

For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com. 

About exocad GmbH

exocad GmbH is a dynamic and innovative software company committed to expanding the possibilities of digital dentistry and providing OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) with flexible, reliable, and easy-to-use CAD/CAM software for dental labs and dental practices. exocad software has been chosen by leading OEMs worldwide for integration into their dental CAD/CAM offerings, and thousands of exocad DentalCAD licenses are sold each year. For more information and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release, including the tables below and other information publicly disseminated by us, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including quotations from management, statements regarding (i) expected transaction benefits and synergies as a result of the acquisition, (ii)  anticipated dilution and accretion, respectively, from the transaction, and (iii) expectations regarding the purchase price and timing of the transaction,  in addition to other matters discussed in this press release that are not purely historical data. We do not assume any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new developments or otherwise.  Forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the tables below relating to expectations about future events or results are based upon information available to Align as of the date hereof. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. As a result, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated include, without limitation:

• the ability to: (i) realize expected synergies or benefits in connection with the proposed transaction within the expected timeframes or not at all and (ii) timely, cost-efficiently and effectively integrate exocad’s business without adversely impacting operations of either Align or exocad;

• the effect of the announcement or closing of the proposed transaction on (i) Align’s and exocad’s relationships with their respective customers, suppliers, strategic partners and competitors and their operating results and businesses generally (including the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues) and (ii) the ability to retain and hire key personnel;

• uncertainties associated with any aspect of the proposed transaction, including those related to (i) fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and transaction costs, and (ii) litigation in connection with the transaction itself or ongoing matters acquired from exocad;

• the potential that our due diligence did not uncover risks and potential liabilities associated with the exocad;

• risks relating to financial reporting including those resulting from the implementation of new or changed accounting policies and practices as well as associated system implementation in the context of the transaction as well as our ability to forecast financial results;

• the potential impact of the transaction on our future tax rate and payments based on the consolidation of the global group and our ability to integrate foreign operations;

• the potential negative effects of the announcement of the proposed transaction on the market price of the Company’s common stock;

• difficulties predicting customer and consumer purchasing behavior;

• expectations regarding the continued growth of our international markets;

• increasing competition from existing and new competitors;

• rapidly evolving and groundbreaking advances that are fundamentally changing the dental industry and the way new and existing participants market and provide products and services to consumers;

• our ability to protect our intellectual property rights;

• our expectations regarding sales growth of our intra-oral scanner sales in international markets and our belief that technology features and functionality of the iTero scanners will increase adoption of Invisalign and increase sales of our intra-oral scanners;

• the possibility that the development and release of new products or enhancements to existing products do not proceed in accordance with the anticipated timeline or may themselves contain bugs or errors requiring remediation and that the market for the sale of these new or enhanced products may not develop as expected, or that the expected benefits of new or existing business relationships will not be achieved as anticipated;

• the compromise of employee, customer and/or patient data for any reason;

• changes in consumer spending habits as a result of, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wages and consumer confidence; and

• foreign operational, political and other risks relating to our international manufacturing operations.

The foregoing and other risks are detailed from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 28, 2020. Securities and Exchange Commission filings can be accessed over the Internet at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.