Company earns PACE approval from Academy of General Dentistry

    Oct. 18, 2007
    Align Technology gains distinction.

    SANTA CLARA, California--Align Technology, Inc. has announced approval of its Continuing Education Program by the Academy of General Dentistry's Program Approval for Continuing Education Committee.

    PACE is an evaluation of the educational processes used in designing, planning and implementing continuing education. It was created to assist the dental profession in identifying and participating in quality continuing dental education.

    "We are pleased that the AGD has approved our program, and in so doing, has recognized our dedication to continuing education," said Dr. Lou Shuman, vice president of strategic relations for Align. "Our acceptance in the dental community has been a direct result of the commitment we have to educating providers on the applicability of the Invisalign technique in their practice, and the general benefits it provides to their patients."

    Align's Clinical Education department is working to provide a "True Continuum of Learning." The team's goal is to create diverse educational resources for Invisalign providers--from the novice to the most advanced practitioner--in a wide variety of delivery formats, thereby accommodating each customer's unique learning preferences. 

    To be considered for PACE, organizations that are national or international in scope, providing programs in more than one state or province or drawing a significant amount of participants from more than one state or province, submit applications that are then reviewed by a nine-member committee. Program providers must adhere to over one dozen published standards and criteria in different areas to receive and maintain approval status.

    "Align has an incredible team that is dedicated to creating and managing the significant amount of education they provide each year," said AGD President Vincent C. Mayher, DMD, MAGD. "The PACE approval is recognition of Align's professional commitment to continuing education, both now and in the future."

    Program providers approved through the AGD are approved to offer credit hours that can be applied towards the AGD's Fellowship and Mastership award programs. Currently, just less than 500 program providers have received national approval by the AGD's PACE Committee.

    Align is the inventor of Invisalign, a proprietary method of straightening teeth without wires or brackets.