Orthodontics
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners move teeth using a sequence of removable trays, each one slightly different from the last. For most adults they are the discreet route to fixing crowding, spacing or a bite that has drifted over the years.
On this page
What this involves
How aligners actually move teeth
Each tray is made to a position slightly ahead of where your teeth are now. Worn consistently, it applies gentle pressure that moves the teeth toward that position, and then you progress to the next one.
The plan is designed in full before the first tray is made, which means you can see the intended endpoint at the start. It is one of the few areas of dentistry where you get to look at the destination before you begin.
What aligners handle well
Crowding, spacing, mild to moderate bite issues and teeth that have shifted after previous orthodontic work all respond well to aligners.
Some cases are better served by other approaches, and complex bite problems sometimes need a different plan altogether. We will tell you plainly if aligners are the wrong tool for your case rather than stretching them to fit.
Living with aligners
Aligners come out to eat and to clean your teeth, and go back in for everything else. The results follow the wear time closely, so the patients who do well are the ones who keep them in.
Speech adjusts within a few days. Most people find the trays become unremarkable quickly, which is generally the point.
Retention
Teeth have a memory. Without retention they drift back toward where they started, which is the single most common reason people end up in aligners twice.
Retainers are part of the plan from the beginning, not an afterthought. We will explain how often to wear them and check the fit at your hygiene visits.
Who it is for
You want it discreet
Adults who work in front of people are the most common aligner patients we see.
Your teeth have shifted
Relapse after childhood braces is very common and usually straightforward to correct.
Alignment comes first
If cosmetic work is on your mind, moving teeth into position first often means less porcelain later.
How it works
Scan
A digital scan of your teeth, with no impression material involved.
Preview
We plan the movement digitally and show you the intended result before you commit.
Wear
You progress through the tray sequence, with check-ins to confirm the teeth are tracking.
Retain
Retainers are fitted once you finish, and we review them at your regular visits.
Common questions
Clear Aligners
Most people do not. The trays are thin and clear, though they are visible at close range if someone is looking.
They need to be in for the large majority of the day and night, out only for meals and cleaning. Results track wear time closely.
There is usually pressure and tenderness for a day or so after changing trays. It settles, and most people stop noticing after the first few changes.
Often yes, and the sequence is worth planning. We will advise on timing based on your case.
Call the practice. Tracking issues are common, fixable and easier to correct early than late.
Other services
We would like to meet you.
Appointments in Whitehouse Station, most weekdays from eight.
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