Twenty-two hours a day.
A sequence of clear trays. Each one asks the teeth for a little more.
They only work while they are in. That part is yours.
Clear aligners
Treatments / Clear aligners
Clear aligners
A series of removable transparent trays, changed at home on a set schedule. Invisalign, Angel Aligners and others.
What it costs
Includes the scans, the full series of aligners, all appointments and your retainers at the end.
How it works
The teeth are scanned and a sequence of aligners is made, each one slightly different from the last. You change to the next one on schedule and the teeth follow the sequence.
What it asks of you
This is the honest part, and the reason aligner treatment sometimes fails. The aligners only work while they are in your mouth.
- 22 hours a day, every day — they come out to eat and to brush
- Nothing but water while they are in
- Small tooth-coloured attachments are usually bonded to some teeth so the aligner can grip
- If you will not wear them, fixed braces will get you a better result
The systems we use
We are an Invisalign provider, and we also treat with Angel Aligners. Both work the same way — a sequence of trays worn to a schedule — and both are planned and carried out by the same clinician here. What separates them is the material, the cost and how each handles particular movements.
Which one we suggest depends on your teeth, not on the brand you came in asking for. Your written plan says which system, and why.
What they are good at, and what they are not
Aligners handle crowding, spacing and mild to moderate corrections well. Some movements — large rotations, closing certain gaps, moving roots — are more predictable with a fixed appliance. We will say which applies to you rather than sell you the option you came in asking for.
Questions
What people ask
Can anyone tell I am wearing them?
Rarely at conversational distance. The attachments are visible up close.
What if I lose one?
Tell us straight away. Depending on where you are in the sequence you may go back to the previous one or move on; do not simply leave a gap.
Is it faster than braces?
Not necessarily. It depends on the case, not on the appliance.
Is clear aligners right for your teeth?
That is what the consultation answers. You leave with the options set out — including the ones you did not come in asking about — and an idea of what each would cost.