LightForce Orthodontics bags $50m in Series C for 3D printed braces system

LightForce Orthodontics, a maker of 3D printed braces system, has raised $50 million in a Series C round led by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins.

Previous investors of the company — Matrix Partners, AM Ventures, and Tyche Partners, also took part in the funding round.

Based in Burlington, Massachusetts, LightForce Orthodontics is a digital platform that offers fully customizable 3D printed tooth-moving tools to orthodontists.

Last year, the company is said to have developed additional orthodontic advancements that include the Light Bracket, a range of translucent braces. The Light Bracket braces line is designed to be a more aesthetic option that blends in with the color of a wearer’s teeth, thereby decreasing the visibility of the overall system.

LightForce Orthodontics said that the new funding will enable it to provide training and education for orthodontists to ensure they are making the most of the technology available to their patients, while also scaling operations and go-to-market initiatives.

LightForce Orthodontics bags $50m in Series C round for 3D printed braces system. Photo courtesy of Business Wire.

Dr. Alfred Griffin III — LightForce Orthodontics CEO and co-founder said: “LightForce was founded to provide fully customized, USA-made treatment options for orthodontists interested in offering modern braces to their patients.

“The investment from Kleiner Perkins allows us to continue creating mass-customized braces that enable orthodontists to provide a personalized patient experience within an industry that has not evolved the use of braces in the last 25 years.”

The 3D printing technology of LightForce Orthodontics is said to enable complete and infinite customization for every patient.

One of the main advantages of the technology is the ability to 3D print brackets that fit the specific tooth morphology of each individual patient, which allows for customization that would otherwise not be available to patients who wear traditional braces.

LightForce Orthodontics further claimed that its 3D printed technology offers a patient-specific alternative to conventional braces, which means that users do not have to compromise with the outdated “one-size-fits-all” braces that are often ineffective and do not meet the expectations of the wearer.

Wen Hsieh — partner at Kleiner Perkins said: “LightForce’s innovative approach to an industry that has lacked technological disruptiveness for the past 25 years is what initially attracted us to this investment opportunity.

“Having previously-invested in the first digital revolution of orthodontics decades ago through Align Technology, Kleiner Perkins is excited to invest in the second-wave of orthodontics digitization through Lightforce. We’re excited to partner with Co-Founder-CEO Alfred Griffin and the Lightforce team to leverage the latest 3D printing technology to further enhance the doctor and patient experience with bracket-based orthodontics.”