Treatment Guides
Clear Aligners: A Modern Approach to Straighter Teeth
Removable, transparent and convenient — with one requirement that determines whether they work at all.
Clear aligners have made orthodontic treatment more appealing to adults who would not consider fixed braces. They are effective within their range, and they depend on something fixed appliances do not: your consistency.
How they work
Treatment starts with records and a digital plan showing how each tooth should move. A series of trays is produced from that plan, each applying small planned forces.
Small tooth-coloured attachments are often bonded to some teeth so the aligners can grip and deliver specific movements. These are removed at the end of treatment.
The wear requirement
Aligners only move teeth while they are in the mouth. Treatment generally requires wearing them for most of the day and night, removing them to eat and to clean.
This is the single largest variable in the outcome. If the required wear time does not fit your life, it is better to say so at the planning stage than to discover it halfway through.
What they do well, and where fixed braces still lead
Aligners handle mild to moderate crowding and spacing well, and are frequently used to refine tooth position before restorative work. More complex movements can require fixed appliances or a combined approach.
- Suited to: mild to moderate crowding, spacing, relapse after previous treatment
- Advantages: removable for eating and cleaning, less visible
- Consider fixed appliances for: complex rotations, significant bite correction
Retention is not optional
Teeth tend to move back towards their original position after any orthodontic treatment. Retainers are a permanent part of the plan, not an optional extra at the end of it.
Medical disclaimer. Information on this website is provided for general informational purposes and does not replace a clinical examination or professional dental advice. Treatment suitability, duration and outcomes vary by patient.
