Lightforce Orthodontics is a technology company.
Lightforce Orthodontics has raised $149.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Lightforce Orthodontics has raised $149.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Lightforce Orthodontics has raised $149.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Lightforce Orthodontics's investors include Alumni Ventures, Applied Ventures, Intel Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Matrix, Matter Venture Partners, Playground Global, The House Fund, Trousdale Ventures.
LightForce Orthodontics is a technology company that builds a digital platform delivering fully customized, 3D-printed orthodontic braces and treatment software to orthodontists worldwide.[1][2][3][5] It serves orthodontic practices by solving the limitations of traditional, one-size-fits-all brackets, enabling patient-specific designs that reduce treatment time by up to 40% and cut appointments by up to 40% through precise tooth-moving tools like ceramic brackets, LightTrays for bonding, and LightPlan software for real-time planning.[2][4][5] The company targets the growing demand for personalized orthodontics, with strong growth momentum evidenced by its ranking as the 47th fastest-growing company on the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, driven by customer-led innovation and rapid product iteration.[2]
Headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, LightForce empowers orthodontists to create unique smiles efficiently, combining clinician expertise with advanced manufacturing for better outcomes and fewer visits.[3][5][6]
LightForce Orthodontics was founded in 2015 by Dr. Alfred Griffin III, DMD, PhD, MMSc, an orthodontist who, while snowed in during the Boston blizzard of 2015, researched breakthroughs in 3D printing and theorized the possibility of printing clinically viable orthodontic brackets—a feat never achieved before.[1][3][6] After three to five years of intensive R&D, Dr. Griffin developed the world's first 3D-printed ceramic polycrystalline alumina bracket, enabling fully personalized fixed appliance treatments.[2][3][6]
He partnered with Dr. Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS, a key Invisalign executive during its hyper-growth phase, dental industry leader, and serial entrepreneur, who helped assemble a team of biomechanical engineers, hardware specialists, and software developers experienced in dental systems.[1][3][6] The company gained FDA clearance in 2019, launched its complete system at the AAO Annual Session that year, moved to expanded headquarters in Burlington in 2021, and won the AAO Innovator Award in 2022.[3][6]
LightForce stands out in orthodontics through its fully integrated, end-to-end digital ecosystem tailored for personalization and efficiency:
These elements create a seamless workflow from scan to production, positioning LightForce as the most requested brand in personalized orthodontics.[6]
LightForce rides the wave of personalized medicine and advanced manufacturing in dentistry, leveraging 3D printing breakthroughs to disrupt the $15+ billion orthodontics market dominated by mass-produced appliances.[3][6] Timing is ideal amid rising patient demand for customized, efficient care—fueled by aligner popularity like Invisalign—and orthodontists' need for tools matching digital workflows, amid labor shortages and practice optimization pressures.[2][4]
Market forces like FDA-cleared additive manufacturing, falling 3D printing costs, and AI-enhanced planning favor LightForce, enabling scalable personalization that traditional methods can't match.[1][5] It influences the ecosystem by setting standards for digital orthodontics, inspiring adoption (e.g., practices like Burlington Orthodontics), and fostering community-driven innovation, potentially accelerating industry shift from generic to bespoke treatments.[2][4]
LightForce is poised for continued dominance in 3D orthodontics, with expansions likely in AI integrations for predictive planning, global market penetration, and hybrid aligner-bracket systems to capture more share from incumbents.[2][5] Trends like teledentistry, sustainable manufacturing, and value-based care will amplify its momentum, as practices prioritize faster, personalized outcomes amid aging demographics and aesthetic demands.
As the pioneer bridging clinician vision with cutting-edge tech, LightForce exemplifies how digital platforms revolutionize specialties—delivering the unique smiles patients deserve while transforming orthodontic practices worldwide.[6]
Lightforce Orthodontics has raised $149.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $80.0M Series D in August 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2023 | $80.0M Series D | Alumni Ventures, Applied Ventures, Intel Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Matrix, Matter Venture Partners, Playground Global, The House Fund, Trousdale Ventures | |
| Nov 1, 2021 | $50.0M Series C | Alumni Ventures, Applied Ventures, Intel Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Matrix, Matter Venture Partners, Playground Global, The House Fund, Trousdale Ventures | |
| Sep 1, 2020 | $14.0M Series B | Alumni Ventures, Applied Ventures, Intel Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Playground Global, The House Fund | |
| Sep 1, 2018 | $5.0M Venture Round | Matrix |