National oral health study powered by digital dentistry

SWITZERLAND has launched its first large-scale oral health study, supported by Align Technology, a leading medical device company that manufactures the Invisalign® clear aligner system.     Led by Professor Dr. Hendrik Meyer-Lückel, director of the  Clinic for Conservative, Preventive, and Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Bern, the landmark study aims to examine nearly 3,450 children and adults by the end of 2027 to identify oral health trends and establish a baseline for future public health strategies.    Align Technology is supporting the initiative with its state-of-the-art iTero™ Lumina intraoral scanner, enabling high-quality digital scans alongside clinical examinations. A mobile dental van equipped with an iTero Lumina scanner will be traveling daily to schools and communities across Switzerland, enabling researchers to conduct on-site examinations and digital scans. The iTero Lumina scanner is designed to simplify the capture of challenging areas like the palate, edentulous spaces, partially erupted teeth and crowded teeth.    The study is designed to collect data across three key age groups: 6–12, 35–44, and 65–74 years. Its goal is to provide valuable insights into the oral health status of the Swiss population, helping to inform future healthcare strategies and improve patient outcomes. It aims to examine approximately 1,800 children by June 2026 and 1,650 adults by the end of 2027, across six cantons: Aargau, Bern, Lucerne, Ticino, Vaud, and Zurich.   By incorporating dental and gingival scans alongside clinical examinations, the study seeks to enhance diagnostic accuracy and explore the potential for trained dental assistants to support dental screenings. These intraoral scans, along with longitudinal follow-ups, are expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of oral health's impact on overall well-being, helping to shape more effective preventive care and public health programs.   Simon Beard, Align Technology executive vice president and managing director, EMEA, said: “We are honored to support this pioneering oral health initiative with the University of Bern and look forward to how integration of the iTero Lumina scanner into the study can enhance data quality and support the long-term goal of validating digital diagnostics as a complement to clinical examinations.”   Prof. Dr. Meyer-Lückel added: "This study represents a major step forward in understanding the oral health of the Swiss population. The support from Align Technology and the use of the iTero Lumina scanner have significantly enhanced our ability to collect high-quality data efficiently and comfortably for participants of all ages, including young children."