Cleared Traditional

K233257 - 3M™ Clarity™Aligners with Quick Attachments (FDA 510(k) Clearance)

Class II Dental device cleared through predicate-based substantial equivalence - typically does not require clinical trials.

K233257 · 3M Company, Unitek Orthodontic Products · Dental device
Download Printable Device Report (PDF)
Optimized for regulatory review, auditing and printing
Sep 2023
Decision
1d
Days
Class 2
Risk

K233257 is an FDA 510(k) clearance for the 3M™ Clarity™Aligners with Quick Attachments. Classified as Aligner, Sequential (product code NXC), Class II - Special Controls.

Submitted by 3M Company, Unitek Orthodontic Products (Saint Paul, US). The FDA issued a Cleared decision on September 29, 2023 after a review of 1 days - a notably fast clearance cycle.

This device falls under the Dental FDA review panel, regulated under 21 CFR 872.5470 - the FDA dental device regulatory framework. The Traditional 510(k) pathway establishes clearance through substantial equivalence to a legally marketed predicate device, without requiring clinical trial data.

Device pattern: Fast-track predicate clearance. Standard predicate reliance. The short review cycle indicates strong predicate alignment - the FDA found sufficient equivalence without extended technical review.

View all 3M Company, Unitek Orthodontic Products devices

Submission Details

510(k) Number K233257 FDA.gov
FDA Decision Cleared Substantially Equivalent - Traditional 510(k) (SESE)
Date Received September 28, 2023
Decision Date September 29, 2023
Days to Decision 1 days
Submission Type Traditional
Review Panel Dental (DE)
Summary Summary PDF
Third-party Review Yes - reviewed by an FDA-accredited third party
Combination Product No
PCCP Authorized No
Regulatory Context
Review time vs. panel average
126d faster than avg
Panel avg: 127d · This submission: 1d
Pathway characteristics
Predicate-based equivalence. No clinical trials required. Third-party reviewed.

Device Classification

Product Code NXC Aligner, Sequential
Device Class Class 2 - Special Controls
CFR Regulation 21 CFR 872.5470
Definition The Device Moves The Teeth By Continuous Gentle Force For Treatment Of Minor Tooth Malocclusion.
What this classification means

Class II devices require demonstration of substantial equivalence to a legally marketed predicate device. This pathway does not require clinical trials - it relies on engineering equivalence and performance data. Most Dental devices follow this clearance model.

Regulatory Consultant

Regulatory Technology Services, LLC
Prithul Bom

The regulatory consultant manages the 510(k) submission process on behalf of the applicant - coordinating technical documentation, predicate strategy and FDA communications. Identifying the consultant behind a submission is a key signal for competitive regulatory intelligence.

Regulatory Peers - NXC Aligner, Sequential

All 142
Devices cleared under the same product code (NXC) and FDA review panel - the closest regulatory comparables to K233257.
SureSmile Aligner (ASSY500020)
K260722 · Dentsply Sirona, Inc. · Apr 2026
ZSmile System
K253282 · Dror Orthodesign , Ltd. · Feb 2026
Clear Aligner (SCF-3348)
K251454 · Beame Medical Technology (Shenzhen) Limited · Jan 2026
Primeprint Direct Aligner
K250739 · Dreve Dentamid GmbH · Nov 2025
Invisalign® Palatal Expander System
K252931 · Align Technology, Inc. · Oct 2025
Invisalign Specifix Attachment System
K252870 · Align Technology, Inc. · Oct 2025