Clear aligner orthodontics is evolving rapidly, and Angel Aligner is making waves in the North American market. On this episode of the Golden Age of Orthodontics podcast, hosts Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein welcome Jason Tabb, VP and GM of Angel Aligner North America, to discuss digital orthodontics, aligner treatment capabilities, and competitive market differentiation. Jason shares insights on Angel Aligner's innovative approach to complex cases, including mandibular advancement, unique aligner buttons, and digital workflow improvements. The conversation also addresses intellectual property concerns and how orthodontic practices can leverage aligner technology to enhance efficiency and patient outcomes.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

1. How Angel Aligner has rapidly scaled in the North American market through orthodontic innovation and responsive case setup design
2. The latest aligner technology advancements, including integrated aligner buttons, Angel Hook, and dual-material aligner systems for complex cases
3. Strategies for orthodontic practices to improve efficiency with digital workflow solutions and treatment planning tools
4. How to evaluate aligner treatment options based on clinical performance, turnaround times, and market differentiation

Subscribe to the Golden Age of Orthodontics and our sister podcast, Practice Talk, hosted by Lacey Ellis, wherever you listen to stay updated on orthodontic innovation and real-world practice strategies. Visit People in Practice for more insights and to connect with our team for practice growth solutions.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Amy shares the upcoming guest schedule and invites listeners to the Practice Talk podcast

04:11 Jason Tabb discusses Angel Aligner's entry strategy and why orthodontists responded to their market differentiation

08:53 Latest aligner technology innovations, including aligner buttons, Angel Button, Angel Hook, and mandibular advancement systems

13:56 Addressing intellectual property concerns and Angel Aligner's commitment to fair competition

15:44 Future of digital orthodontics and how aligner treatment improves practice efficiency

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Angel Aligner differentiates through ease of doing business, consistent case setup quality, and specialized solutions for complex cases, including mandibular advancement, premolar extraction, and molar distalization
2. The aligner button and Angel Hook innovations are integrated directly into aligners, reducing emergency visits and enabling treatment planning for challenging Class II and Class III cases with aligner therapy
3. Digital orthodontics investments typically show ROI within 12-18 months as orthodontic practices gain workflow efficiency, treat larger patient loads, and meet growing patient demand for clear aligner orthodontics

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Angel Aligner - Website

Jason Tabb - Email

[00:00:24] We had Joe Hogan from Invisalign on the show just a couple of months ago. That's episode 78. If you haven't listened to it, you can uh, find it. Uh, today we're joined by Jason tab, vice President and General Manager of Angel Aligner North America. To unpack how Angel has scaled so quickly where Digital Orthodontics is heading, and how Angel aligner views innovation in this competitive market.

[00:00:56] Welcome to the Golden Age of [00:01:00] Orthodontics.

[00:01:34] You can get more information as well as a special offer on our website. Just go to PPL practice.com and click our partner tab. Welcome to the Golden Age of Orthodontics. I'm Leon Klempner, retired board certified orthodontist, director of orthodontics at Mount Sinai Hospital, part-time faculty at Harvard and Montefiore.

[00:01:58] Amy Epstein: Congrats.

[00:02:16] Amy Epstein: Thank you. Yeah. I'm Amy Epstein and, uh, we do this podcast together, uh, because my background is brand marketing and communications.

[00:02:58] So before we [00:03:00] get into it, um, as we start out the new year, I wanted to make sure that all of you listeners know about the things that are happening, um, through people in practice media, both for the Golden Age of Orthodontics Podcast and for our other podcast, which is geared toward team members at Orthodontic Practices.

[00:03:38] You can subscribe to them on the website as they come, and we'll send out emails as well.

[00:04:00] The name of the talk's gonna be the AI Advantage, elevating Orthodontists not replacing them. Mm-hmm. So we're excited about that.

[00:04:20] A little bit about Jason's background. He leads Angel, angel aligners growth across the US and Canada, working closely with doctors on digital workflows, aligner innovation, and building more patient-driven treatment experiences. Before joining Angel, Jason held senior leadership roles at ORM co helping drive global marketing strategy and commercial excellence across the orthodontic industry.

[00:05:00] Jason Tabb: Thank you Amy and Leon. Thank you.

[00:05:07] Dr. Leon Klempner: Jason, um, if I recall, I think it might have been. 2022. At 2023 when I was walking around the a a o exhibit Hall, as I often do, looking for what's new and what some of our, uh, podcast listeners might be interested in. I came across this little kind of small booth on the side, um, and it was called Angel Aligner.

[00:06:00] Jason Tabb: Leon, um, the timing was exactly right for Angel in 2023, uh, not only to make it the entry possible, but to actually make it successful. And what we did was we positioned 20 years of innovation, developed around a high population of complex cases, and introduced several first in market innovations such as our Angel button and our Angel Aligner Pro dual material full featured system in 2020.

[00:06:47] And, uh, angel entered the US market there with a product that excelled in treating complex, comprehensive cases. Over a million cases, delivered consistent case design, uh, by high, highly skilled. [00:07:00] Design techs and on staff orthodontists and most importantly, happy orthodontic customers who shared what they loved about Angel with their peers.

[00:07:31] Orthodontists are also resonating with angel's values, and we have a passion for orthodontics, clinical excellence, and a people first mentality, which through collaboration with orthodontists, has allowed us to very rapidly update our software and our hardware. So Angel meets the orthodontist expectations for consistent case setups.

[00:07:56] Amy Epstein: So let's talk a little bit about, [00:08:00] um, differentiation because, and this is a question that if anybody's listening out there, you know, you may notice the pattern that I typically tend to go here. This is where I live in this brand development space and in the marketing communication space.

[00:08:42] Differentiation can show up in treatment capabilities, workflow economics. From your perspective, where is Angel genuinely differentiated from other options in the market?

[00:09:13] Clinical expertise and software innovations. Um, you know, we're really following doctor's protocols with real live design technicians with several years of experience and supervised by a team of orthodontists. And then there's clinical performance. Our innovative algorithms address common challenges that.

[00:09:52] Where they're trying to, um, make complex tooth movements. Also, the orthodontists are very impressed with our consistent and [00:10:00] reliable turnaround times, as well as our simple pricing structure, which doesn't have them chasing volumes or feeling like they are pressured to use aligners on a case they would really prefer not to.

[00:10:39] You mentioned a few other things, so I, I'm curious, what are some of the most recent advancements or launches that you are most excited about?

[00:11:02] Uh, in fact, the pro, the product won best new product award in 2025 by the digital orthodontist. And this, uh, this feature gives clinicians greater flexibility and control of force delivery when they're using elastics, which translates into better tooth control and fewer emergency visits. We also have the Angel Hook.

[00:11:47] Um, our. A six mandibular advancement system, which I mentioned earlier. Uh, also has been very well received for the treatment of skeletal class two cases. And this year we'll be launching an angel kid, a three in one [00:12:00] system for early treatment, which has an optional tongue crib and tongue guide. Also can, combined with our A six mandibular advancement appliance, allows doctors to simultaneously address dental alignment, muscular function, and jaw and bone development.

[00:12:42] And then we have the Angel Pro product. Uh, this utilizes two unique materials. We have a flexible and a firm aligner used interchangeably throughout treatment. And this is very effective at addressing complex third order movements and challenging distillation cases.

[00:13:07] These aren't like separate things that, that we need to bond on to the teeth.

[00:13:25] Dr. Leon Klempner: So Jason, let me address an elephant in the room and, and which is that there's been a lot of recent industry coverage about ip, intellectual property, and angel.

[00:13:57] Jason Tabb: Leon, uh, first of all, Allion's [00:14:00] accusations are completely wrong and we are vigorously contesting their accusations.

[00:14:25] And our flexible automated manufacturing system has also been widely praised by orthodontists for taking their clinical. Innovative ideas and working them into clinical solutions. And that's evidenced by the fact that 70% of the angel cases that ship are complex, comprehensive cases. So we believe in fair competition and offering high quality options for orthodontists.

[00:14:59] Amy Epstein: Thanks for addressing [00:15:00] that. Um, we appreciate it. Uh, you know, just dovetailing about what you just said, we know that you plan to continue to bring innovation to the market.

[00:15:32] So talk a little bit about how Angel is building the infrastructure and, and also the safeguards to support growth to ensure that reliability that practices are looking for when they depend on you.

[00:15:57] And in 2026 we'll be ramping [00:16:00] operations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,

[00:16:02] Jason Tabb: Bringing our products and services even closer to our US customers. Many, many, uh, companies need volume to scale and we've already developed the capacity for global expansion and to be able to handle the volume and growth because we built it before we entered the US market.

[00:16:49] Jason Tabb: Yeah, Leon, uh, I would say take back your brand as an orthodontist.

[00:17:21] Um, the future is definitely in digital orthodontics and, you know, will it entirely replace wires and brackets? Probably not. Um, but. It will make your practice more efficient. And, um, for your listeners here, uh, if, if they've ever, uh, sat in a lecture with Chris Benson or perhaps watched your podcast, I believe you had Chris on.

[00:17:43] Jason Tabb: Uh, you know, he has plenty of data that shows that clear aligners, although it's an investment, it can make your practice more efficient. And within 12 to 18 months, most practices will get through that learning curve. Gain greater efficiency in their workflows and be able to carry [00:18:00] larger patient loads and increase their ROI on their bottom line driving greater profitability.

[00:18:32] Um, angel

[00:18:34] Amy Epstein: Yeah. And when is that coming out?

[00:18:41] Amy Epstein: that's great. And I, you know, there's, there's, uh, opportunity there in my opinion, as the parent of a 7-year-old who's going to be, you know, in treatment. Um, a responsible 7-year-old is a great aligner candidate, you know, so there's a, I think a real need for, for that type of [00:19:00] product.

[00:19:14] Jason Tabb: Yeah, Amy, they can, um, find more information about our innovative products and services@angelaligner.com.

[00:19:42] And Dr. Willa Diane presented a lunch and learn at the a a o mid-winter meeting in Phoenix on January 23rd. So we have an upcoming meeting actually in February, February 26th to 28th in Maui, Hawaii, where we'll feature Dr. Chris Teeters, Dr. Alex Waldman, and Dr. Jenny Shu. And they'll be [00:20:00] presenting on clinical approaches to challenging cases.

[00:20:22] Or they can email me directly. I'd be happy to respond. Uh, and they can reach me@jason.tab at angel liner.com. Thank you.

[00:20:35] Jason Tabb: Uh, it's been a true pleasure, Amy. Thank you. Thank you Leon, and uh, happy near year to you as well.

[00:20:42] Amy Epstein: You can subscribe or download other episodes of the Golden Age of Orthodontics on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, if you wanna see us or wherever you get your podcasts. And if you enjoyed it, we'd appreciate you telling a colleague. And of course, for more information about people in practice, you can visit our [00:21:00] website@pplpractice.com.

[00:21:32] We couldn't do the podcast without their support. We live in a digital world and KL Owen is leading the way with their custom solution, which includes a digital indirect binding workflow, a custom prescription for. Every tooth and a portfolio of custom bracket, uh, options. As a uh, golden Age listener, you can get a special introductory offer on our partnerPage@pplpractice.com.

[00:22:19] We are in the Golden Age, so take advantage of it. Bye-bye for now.