Oh my teeth Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Makoto Nishino), which operates the aligner brand "Oh my teeth," has signed a joint research agreement with TMD LAB Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea; Representative: Hak-Joon Sung), a South Korean manufacturer of shape memory polymer (SMP) materials, concerning next-generation materials for orthodontic aligners (direct print resin). Both companies have been in discussions since March 2026 and held a signing ceremony at TMD LAB headquarters (Seoul, South Korea) on June 13, 2026, to officially commence research. Through this research, both companies will proceed with verification towards the practical application of aligner therapy that is easier to continue and places less burden on users. ▲ TMD LAB and Oh my teeth Joint Research Agreement Signing Ceremony (June 2026, Seoul, South Korea) ■ Background: Three Areas for Improvement in Aligner Therapy Historically, aligner therapy has had three main areas for improvement: Burden of clinic visits: Visits are necessary for the attachment and adjustment of "attachments," auxiliary devices that aid tooth movement. Cost burden: The treatment cost tends to be high due to the intricate processes and manual labor involved. Convenience and hygiene: Many conventional shape memory materials require high temperatures to return to their original shape, presenting an area for improvement as they can be difficult to integrate into daily life. The characteristic that this material returns to its original shape within body temperature (37-40°C) is what has drawn attention. This property is expected to work gently within the mouth, and both companies will verify how these characteristics can be utilized in orthodontic treatment. Furthermore, basic evaluations are planned to assess the potential for reducing biofilm formation on the material's surface. ■ Overview of Joint Research: Combining the Strengths of Japan and South Korea Following the signing ceremony in June