FDA clears Ormco's Spark aligners for younger kids

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Ormco's Spark clear aligners as an orthodontic treatment for younger children.

The doctor-directed aligner system can be used on primary and secondary teeth, allowing clinicians to offer the treatment to younger patients with simple and complex orthodontic issues. Spark aligners have been used worldwide in adult patients since 2019; they were officially released in the U.S. in December 2020.

Ormco said its Spark aligners are made with the company's TruGen material, which it claims resists stains better and is clearer than popular aligner materials. The edges of Spark aligners are polished and smoother to avoid occasional patient discomfort, according to the company.