Align Technology has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held US based Cadent, a provider of 3-D digital CAD/CAM solutions for the orthodontic and dental industries, for $190m.
The acquisition follows the January 2011 announcement of a joint development agreement between Align and Cadent to co-develop Invisalign software applications that will run on Cadent scanners.
The FDA approved Invisalign corrects malocclusion using a series of appliances that gently move teeth to a desired final position.
Cadent brings complimentary market knowledge and innovative technology in CAD/CAM restorative dentistry to Align, including capabilities in digital records storage and digital impressions for fabrication of crown and bridge, veneers, implants, and other restorative procedures.
As part of an ongoing program to evaluate interoperability of intra-oral scanning systems for future use with Invisalign treatment, Align is in final beta tests with Cadent’s systems and expects to announce interoperability for their scanners in the second quarter of 2011.
The acquisition is subject to various standard closing conditions, including the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart Scott Rodino Act (HSR), and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2011.