This Technology Everyone Laughed Off Is Quietly Changing

One of my most painful memories as a kid was having my braces tightened.

The orthodontist would grip his pliers, clamp down on the metal wire cemented to my crank and crank.

I am happy to have straight teeth today but man did those things hurt.

And they were embarrassing too. Especially during those young teen years when self-confidence is fragile. There was just no good way to hide a mouthful of metal.

So Long, Metal Braces Ever notice you don’t see metal braces all that much anymore?

Align Technology (ALGN) answered the prayers of millions of teenagers by creating invisible braces.

Instead of shiny metal brackets cemented to your teeth Align’s Invisaligns are made of transparent plastic. It sold over 80 million pairs last year.

Invisalign was a godsend for people with crooked teeth. Not only could they fix your smile with far less pain and embarrassment. They made early investors rich.