Align Technology, the manufacturer of the Invisalign system of orthodontic braces, recently announced the release of an improved artificial intelligence-assisted smartphone app that can direct an Invisalign wearer when to advance to his or her next set of aligners. The company’s “Virtual Care AI-assisted Remote Monitoring Solution” helps patients take pictures of their teeth, and automatically evaluates the alignment and spacing of the teeth and compares them to the personalized settings previously established by the patient’s doctor. The patient then gets an automated message stating whether to move to the next set of aligners or continue with the current aligners for awhile longer.

Another AI-powered orthodontics company, InBrace, offers an alignment device called Smartwire that is programmed for each patient’s teeth based on an orthodontist’s prescription. The device uses InBrace’s 3D modeling and artificial intelligence software.