Will Align Technology Stock Keep Investors Smiling?

In a world of selfies and social media influencers, aesthetics have never been more in focus. Not surprisingly, a survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 99.7% of adults said having a healthy smile was important for social reasons. What might surprise you, though, is that it's about more than just appearance: Gum disease from misaligned teeth can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia, and even stroke. It turns out having a great smile is also good for your health.

Align Technology (NASDAQ: ALGN), a maker of invisible teeth aligners, has been capitalizing on the world's desire for great smiles for the past two decades by improving the experience -- and results -- of having tech fix your teeth. After years of excellent performance, competition and COVID-19 threaten to stall its momentum. Will Align still be able to beautify investors' portfolios, or should they brace for tough times ahead?

Founded in 1997 by a dissatisfied adult orthodontic patient at Stanford and three classmates, Align Technology set out to upend the traditional wires-and-brackets approach to straightening teeth. I still remember my painful experience with braces as a teenager. Luckily, innovation has made the experience much easier since the 1980s. Align uses enhanced scans and 3D printing to customize aligners for a better fit and faster results, plus the ability to show patients how their teeth will look when they complete treatment.

Source Fool.com