US-based personalised 3D printed braces provider LightForce Orthodontics has secured $80m in a Series D round led by Ally Bridge Group, Transformation Capital, and CareCapital.
The investors, including Omega Venture Partners, Matter Venture Partners, and the American Association of Orthodontics, participated in the funding round.
The Series D round also saw participation from existing LightForce investors, Kleiner Perkins, Tyche Partners, and Matrix Partners.
LightForce intends to use the funding to scale the production of its custom 3D-printed brackets with a new facility, advance the use of AI in its workflows, and invest in education.
Ally Bridge Group managing director Kevin Reilly said: “LightForce is taking the orthodontic industry to the next level. Their solution applies highly innovative technologies to enable the personalisation of orthodontic treatment via 3D printing, helping patients achieve their best smiles.
“We are excited to be part of a diverse group of top-tier healthcare and tech investors that believe in the benefits of personalised medicine in the orthodontic industry.
“The future of orthodontics is customisation and digital workflow and we are excited to see the continued enhancement in patient care through this funding.”
LightForce is a large-scale manufacturer of directly 3D-printed functional medical devices and provides a complete braces solution for improved treatment and outcomes for patients.
The company’s software incorporates powerful AI for generating accurate digital representations of patient anatomy and optimal teeth positions for clinical efficiency and aesthetics.
The new funding will help LightForce extend its team of engineers and scientists to develop its software and hardware further to improve patient experience and clinical outcomes.
It will also prepare the company to expand and scale its production capabilities with a new 36,000ft2 manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Massachusetts.
LightForce said that its personalised approach would reduce the need for adjustments, which reduces treatment times while enhancing outcomes, compared to traditional braces.
LightForce CEO and co-founder Alfred Griffin III said: “This incredible syndicate of investors brings diverse expertise from the medical device, health IT, AI, and advanced manufacturing sectors to provide critical resources and expert guidance that will support our overall growth and continued innovation.
“Teen patients have been limited by the inaccuracy and inefficiency of non-custom braces for decades. LightForce was founded to provide fully personalized treatment options to orthodontists for each of their patients to improve their outcomes and experience while in treatment.
“With this funding, LightForce will continue to attract key talent, innovate through our incredible community of orthodontists, and scale operations as we seek to elevate the standard of care for teen orthodontic treatment.”
