Invisalign & clear aligners
For adults and teens who want teeth straightened without brackets showing on the front teeth.
Clear aligners are a numbered set of thin removable trays that move your teeth a small step at a time. They suit crowding, gaps and mild bite problems in people who would rather not wear fixed braces.
Any of these sound familiar?
- Your front teeth overlap or twist and you want them straightened without metal showing.
- Gaps between your teeth trap food, or a tooth is drifting into an empty space.
- You had braces as a teenager, stopped wearing the retainer, and the teeth have crowded again.
- You are on video calls or in front of people all day and brackets are not an option.
- You can keep trays in about 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat and brush.
Start to finish.
-
01
Assessment
Dr. Malik examines your teeth, gums and bite and takes X-rays. He tells you whether aligners can move your teeth far enough, or whether fixed braces are the better fit.
-
02
Scan and plan
We take a scan or impressions of both jaws, and Dr. Malik maps how each tooth needs to move. You see the number of trays and the expected months before anything is ordered.
-
03
First trays
Small tooth-coloured bumps are bonded to some teeth so the trays have something to grip and push against. You get your first trays and we check they seat fully before you leave.
-
04
Wearing them
Each tray stays in about 22 hours a day and is swapped for the next one every week or two. Teeth feel tight for a day after each change, and the trays come out to eat, to drink anything but water, and to brush.
-
05
Check-ins and finishing
You come back every several weeks so Dr. Malik can see whether the teeth are following the plan. If one lags behind, a short second set of trays finishes the job, and you move straight on to a retainer.
What it costs, and who pays.
Aligners are priced as one course of treatment rather than visit by visit, and the course usually runs several months to more than a year. Many dental plans carry a separate orthodontic benefit with a lifetime limit, and some pay towards adults as well as children. The quote covers the trays, the check-in visits and your first retainer.
Ask for a written estimateInvisalign & clear aligners, answered.
How long does Invisalign take?
Usually several months, and often more than a year, depending on how far the teeth have to move. Dr. Malik gives you a range after the scan. That range holds only if the trays are in for about 22 hours a day.
Can I take my aligners out for a wedding or a meeting?
Yes, for short stretches. The trays come out for meals and for photographs. The hours add up, though, and teeth stop following the plan once the daily total slips much below 22.
Do clear aligners work as well as braces?
For mild to moderate crowding and spacing, they do. Larger movements, rotated teeth and bite corrections are more predictable with fixed braces, and Dr. Malik tells you which group your case falls into.
What if I lose a tray?
Call 647.479.3151 and go back to the previous tray in the meantime. Depending on how far through the set you are, we either move you to the next tray early or order a replacement.
