New Data: Approximately 4.6 Million Orthodontic Cases in China in 2025, with Over 927 Million Patients with Malocclusion

Source: Issuer's and intermediary institutions' reply opinions on the first round of review inquiry letters for Smartee Dental's ChiNext IPO

DentalGoodNews｜Recently, Zhejiang Zhengya Dental Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Smartee") disclosed in its reply to the first round of review inquiry letters for its ChiNext IPO that, as of 2025, China had approximately 927.23 million (927,230 thousand) patients with malocclusion, with approximately 4.5959 million orthodontic cases that year, and the orthodontic treatment rate for malocclusion patients was 0.50%.

The calculation methodology is as follows: the number of malocclusion patients is derived by multiplying the 66.0% prevalence rate by the total national population for that year. Data from the reply shows that as China's total population decreased from 1,412.60 million in 2021 to 1,404.89 million in 2025, under the assumption of an unchanged prevalence rate, the number of malocclusion patients correspondingly decreased from 932.32 million to 927.23 million; however, during the same period, the number of orthodontic cases increased from 3.3983 million to 4.5959 million, the orthodontic treatment rate rose from 0.36% to 0.50%, and the clear aligner orthodontics penetration rate increased from 13.27% to 15.92%.

Source: Issuer's and intermediary institutions' reply opinions on the first round of review inquiry letters for Smartee Dental's ChiNext IPO

However, the prevalence rate of malocclusion is a broad epidemiological indicator, and different populations differ in malocclusion type, severity, and treatment urgency. Not all statistically defined malocclusion populations have clear and immediate clinical treatment needs. Smartee pointed out in its reply that Angle Class II and Class III malocclusion patients combined account for over 48% of malocclusion patients in China, higher than levels in developed countries in Europe and America, but the orthodontic treatment rate and clear aligner orthodontics penetration rate remain lower than those in the United States (2%, over 30%) and Europe (0.8%, 26.0%). This gap is mainly influenced by three factors: medical service supply, residents' disposable income, and the degree of market cultivation for clear aligner therapy technology.

Turning to the domestic market structure, traditional bracket orthodontic cases still account for the majority, and the bracketless clear aligner market has high concentration. Smartee, Align Technology, and Angelalign Technology together accounted for over 90% of cases in 2025; some provincial alliance-organized centralized volume-based procurement of orthodontic consumables has included clear aligners in the pilot scope.

Source: Issuer's and intermediary institutions' reply opinions on the first round of review inquiry letters for Smartee Dental's ChiNext IPO

From an age structure perspective, from 2021 to 2025, the adult market share of domestic bracketless clear aligners increased from 17.05% to 30.15%, while the children and adolescent market share correspondingly decreased from 82.95% to 69.85%. At the regional level, there is no significant geographic difference in malocclusion prevalence, but due to the scarcity of professional orthodontists, insufficient clinic penetration, and limited residents' payment capacity, treatment rates and penetration rates in lower-tier and county-level markets are generally lower than those in first- and second-tier cities.

Additionally, Smartee pointed out in its reply that the majority share of traditional bracket cases is mainly driven by three factors: First, its orthodontic technology is mature, applicable to a wide range of cases, and relatively lower in price — domestic traditional orthodontic treatment costs typically range from 8,000 to 30,000 yuan, lower than the 15,000 to 50,000 yuan for clear aligner orthodontics, making it more attractive to price-sensitive patients; Second, some doctors remain cautious about digital clear aligner orthodontics, with technology conversion costs; Third, the large and dispersed number of orthodontic terminals in China means that clear aligner promotion depends on enterprises' continuous investment in doctor education and clinical support. The combination of these three factors determines that clear aligner penetration is a gradual process.

Source: Smartee Dental's IPO prospectus

According to previous reports by DGN, Smartee's Shenzhen Stock Exchange IPO was accepted on June 29, 2026, with plans to raise 901 million yuan, all of which will be allocated to four directions: expansion of customized clear aligner orthodontic appliance production (396 million yuan), R&D center upgrade and construction (122 million yuan), marketing and promotion construction (283 million yuan), and supplementary working capital (100 million yuan).