Patient expectations have changed. And the new expectations don’t just center around the overall consumer experience in healthcare, they also focus heavily on communication.

From new partnerships to initiatives, medical device manufacturer Align Technology has made several moves almost halfway through the year.

Here are five clear aligner developments Becker's has reported on since May 3:

Weave, a customer communication platform, launched a new integration for dental practices with Fuse, a dental practice management software from Patterson Dental.

Cayster, a dental-focused tech company, launched a marketplace to connect dentists, large practice groups, laboratories and other dental service providers.

From new clear aligners to a lawsuit, here are 10 teledentistry and artificial intelligence updates covered by Becker's since May 18 for dental leaders to know:

Medical device company Align Technology recently awarded $275,000 in grants to 10 universities worldwide to support research in orthodontic treatment. 

Teledentistry company SmileDirectClub has won several awards in the last few months showcasing its expertise and success in three areas. 

Guardian Dental has begun offering virtual dental visits for emergency services through a partnership with TeleDentistry.com. 

Clear aligners brand Spark has launched a campaign with its first brand partner. 

Tab32, a cloud-based dental tech platform, has opened a headquarters in downtown Miami.

OrthoFX recently launched two clear aligners designed to eliminate treatment breakdowns and enhance the patient experience. 

Several companies in recent months have begun offering clear aligner services as the demand for more discrete teeth straightening treatment grows among patients. 

Align Technology entered a strategic partnership with Asana Smiles, a work management platform, to offer Invisalign trained doctors in the U.S. a new workflow solution.

Align Technology has launched a simulation tool that allows Invisalign patients to see the potential results of their treatments.

Digital dentistry company Dental Monitoring has launched a virtual dental platform.

Eight dental technologies that have received FDA clearance this year:

Oryx Dental, a dental practice management software company, received 510(k) FDA clearance for its imaging product, Oryx Imaging.

Dental Monitoring, a digital dentistry company, filed a lawsuit against teledental platform Get-Grin with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware alleging infringement of two of its patents.

Overjet continues to make headlines in 2022, many of which centered on the company's artificial intelligence push.