Clear aligners have become a common alternative to fixed metal braces. Here is how Invisalign works, how it compares with traditional braces, and what to weigh up before starting.
If you are thinking about straightening your teeth, you have more options than you did a decade ago. Clear aligners (Invisalign and Angel Aligners) have become a common alternative to fixed metal braces, and Invisalign is often the first name people hear. This article looks at how Invisalign works, how it compares with traditional braces, and where its limits sit.
Invisalign is a clear aligner system. Instead of brackets bonded to each tooth and a wire threaded between them, you wear a series of custom-made, removable trays moulded from smooth transparent plastic. Each tray in the series is slightly different from the one before it, and each applies gentle pressure that moves particular teeth a small distance.
Treatment starts with a consultation and a digital scan of your teeth, which replaces the putty impressions many people remember. That scan becomes a three-dimensional model, and your dentist uses it to plan the sequence of movements from where your teeth are now to where they are being moved to. The aligners are then manufactured to that plan.
You wear each set for roughly a week or two, as directed, before moving on to the next. Small tooth-coloured attachments are often bonded to some teeth to give the aligners something to grip, and in some cases a very small amount of enamel is polished between teeth to create room. Your dentist will tell you whether either applies to you before treatment starts, not partway through.
Aligners appeal to people who want their teeth straightened without the appearance and the daily restrictions of fixed braces. The trade-off is that aligners only work while they are in your mouth, so the result depends heavily on how disciplined you are about wearing them. The sections below take the common questions one at a time.
Traditional braces use metal brackets and wires, and the edges of those components can rub against the inside of the lips and cheeks, particularly in the first few weeks and after each adjustment. Clear aligners are smooth and custom-fitted, so there is less to catch on soft tissue and no wire ends to work loose.
That is not the same as saying aligner treatment is free of discomfort. Moving teeth involves pressure, and most people notice tightness or tenderness for a day or two after changing to a new aligner in the series. It typically settles as the teeth respond, and swapping to the new tray in the evening can make the first night easier.
Discreet is a fairer word than invisible. The aligners are made from clear plastic that sits close to the natural colour of your teeth, so at conversational distance most people do not notice them. Up close, the edge of the aligner and any bonded attachments can be seen. For adults and teenagers weighing aligners against metal braces, that is still a substantial difference in appearance.
Yes, and that is one of the practical advantages over fixed braces. You take the aligners out to eat, to drink anything other than water, and to brush and floss. There is no list of foods to avoid, because nothing is bonded to your teeth while you are eating.
The catch is wear time. Aligners are designed to be worn for most of the day and overnight, and only taken out for meals and cleaning. Leaving them out for long stretches slows treatment down and can mean the next aligner in the series no longer fits as planned, which may require new scans. Removable is convenient, but it also puts the responsibility on you.
Treatment time depends on what needs to move and how far, rather than on the brand of appliance. Straightforward crowding or spacing is usually resolved comparatively quickly; a complex bite correction takes longer with any system. Your dentist will estimate your own case after assessing your teeth, and that estimate assumes the aligners are worn as prescribed.
Aligners handle mild to moderate crowding, spacing and some bite concerns well. More complex problems — significant bite discrepancies, teeth needing substantial vertical movement or rotation, impacted teeth — may be better treated with fixed braces, or may warrant referral to a specialist orthodontist. A proper assessment tells you which category you are in before you commit to anything.
Fewer appointments than with fixed braces, and shorter ones. With braces, you attend regularly to have wires adjusted by hand. With aligners, the adjustment is built into each tray, so reviews are mainly to check the teeth are tracking to plan, look at your gums, and hand over the next stage of aligners. Your dentist will set the interval that suits your case rather than a fixed schedule.
Because they come out, brushing and flossing are unchanged — one of the genuine oral health advantages over fixed braces, where brackets and wires trap plaque against the tooth. Rinse the aligners each time you take them out, brush them gently with a soft brush and cool water, and avoid hot water, which can distort the plastic.
Two habits matter here. Always brush before putting the aligners back in, and never drink anything sugary or acidic while wearing them, because the aligner holds the liquid against your enamel. Coffee, tea and red wine will also discolour the trays over a two-week wear period. If the shade of your teeth is a concern for you, ask about teeth whitening as a separate conversation — aligners straighten teeth, they do not lighten them.
The digital scan removes the need for impression trays and gives a precise model of your teeth. That model lets your dentist plan the movements in sequence and show you a simulation of the intended result before anything is manufactured. Each tray in the series is then shaped for one specific stage of that movement.
A simulation is a plan, not a promise. Teeth are living structures held in bone, and they respond at different rates from one person to the next. The plan is reviewed as you go, and refinement aligners are sometimes needed to finish the job — which is normal rather than a sign something has gone wrong.
Aligner treatment is not right for everyone. Active decay or gum disease needs treating first, because moving teeth through inflamed, unhealthy gums can cause harm. Attachments and a small amount of enamel reduction between teeth are commonly part of treatment. Some people notice a slight lisp for the first few days while the tongue adapts. And every orthodontic result, with braces or aligners, tends to drift back over time unless retainers are worn as instructed afterwards.
The way to find out whether it suits you is a clinical assessment. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums, take the records needed, explain what can and cannot be achieved in your case, set out the risks, and give you a written quote before treatment begins.
Helix Dental provides clear aligner treatment using both Invisalign and Angel Aligners from our practice at 2/299 Rio Vista Blvd, Mermaid Waters, on the Gold Coast. Our dentists will scan your teeth, talk you through which system suits your case, and set out the likely time frame and cost in writing.
If your teeth or gums need attention first, that is handled as part of your general dental care before aligner treatment begins. To arrange a consultation, call the practice on 07 5572 8969 or email hello@helixdental.com.au.
General information only. This page provides general information about dental treatment and is not a substitute for individual clinical advice. Whether any treatment is suitable for you can only be determined by a dentist after an examination. Results and recovery vary from person to person and are not guaranteed.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Good to know
They are discreet rather than invisible. The trays are made from clear plastic that follows the shape of your teeth, so most people do not notice them at conversational distance, though the edge of the aligner and any bonded attachments can be seen up close.
Take them out to eat, and to drink anything other than plain water. Sugary and acidic drinks are held against your enamel by the aligner, and hot drinks can distort the plastic. Brush your teeth before putting the aligners back in.
Rinse them whenever they come out, and brush them gently with a soft toothbrush and cool water. Avoid hot water and abrasive toothpaste, both of which can damage the plastic. Your dentist can recommend a cleaning product if you need one.
Yes. Take the aligners out and store them in their case, and wear a properly fitted mouthguard for any contact sport. Put the aligners back in as soon as you finish so your wear time stays on track.
Our dentists can assess whether aligner treatment suits your teeth — call 07 5572 8969 or email hello@helixdental.com.au.
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