Cosmetic
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners move teeth in small, planned increments using a series of removable trays. The entire movement is mapped digitally before the first tray is made.
What this involves
How aligners move teeth
Each tray is slightly different from the one before it. Worn consistently, that difference applies gentle, directed pressure and the tooth follows it.
Small tooth-colored attachments are sometimes bonded to the teeth to give the tray something to push against. They come off at the end.
The digital plan
A scan replaces the impression tray, and the plan is built from it. You see the intended sequence and the projected end position before committing.
If the movement required is beyond what aligners handle well, we will say so. Some cases are better treated with fixed appliances, and we would rather tell you that at the start.
Living with the trays
Aligners work when they are in. Most plans ask for wear through the day and overnight, with the trays out for meals and for anything other than water.
There is a mild speech adjustment in the first few days and pressure for a day or two after each change. Both settle.
Holding the result
Teeth drift. Retention is not optional, and it is the part of treatment that determines whether the result is still there in a decade.
You will leave with retainers and clear instructions on how long to wear them. If a retainer is lost or damaged, tell us quickly rather than waiting.
Suitability
Who it is for
Adults who want alignment corrected without fixed brackets and wires.
Teens with crowding or spacing who will wear the trays consistently.
Patients whose teeth have shifted since previous orthodontic work.
The Process
How it works
- 01
Scan
A digital scan captures your teeth without impression material.
- 02
Plan
The movement sequence is designed and reviewed with you before trays are made.
- 03
Wear
You move through the trays on schedule, changing them as directed.
- 04
Check
Short progress visits confirm the teeth are tracking the plan.
- 05
Retain
Retainers are fitted to hold the finished position.
Questions
Common questions
It depends on how far the teeth have to move and how consistently the trays are worn. You will get a projected sequence for your own case at the planning stage.
The trays are clear and thin. Most people notice attachments and trays far less than they expect at conversational distance.
Yes. Trays come out for meals and for anything other than water, and the teeth should be cleaned before they go back in.
Call us. Depending on where you are in the sequence, you may go back to the previous tray or move forward, and we will tell you which.
Some bite corrections are well within range and others are not. That assessment happens before treatment is planned, not partway through it.
Also Available
Related services
General
Preventive and Hygiene
Regular cleanings and comprehensive exams with the same hygienist, so nothing gets missed between visits.
Cosmetic
Cosmetic Dentistry
Veneers, bonding and whitening planned around your face, not a catalogue of shades.
Implants
Dental Implants
Single implants through full restoration, planned and placed here rather than referred out.
We would like to meet you.
Request an appointment and our team will be in touch to find a time that works.