Until the advent of clear aligners, conventional braces (brackets bonded to your teeth and orthodontic wires) were the only way you could get your teeth straightened.

In the year 2000, Align Technologies (Invisalign) launched a new type of appliance that could align teeth with the use of a series of clear plastic trays. Since that time, the technique has been perfected and now a multitude of companies manufacture orthodontic clear aligners.

How do they work?

Teeth alignment is achieved by using a series of custom made trays that will gradually move your teeth. Each subsequenttray is manufactured so that your teeth are slightly straighter then the previous tray. This creates forces that nudge your teeth incrementally towards their final position.

Who can get clear aligners?

Clear aligners are a wonderful solution for patients who want to straighten their teeth but do not wish to wear conventional braces. Their almost invisible see-through appearance and the fact that they are removable is a perfect fit for those who have aesthetic concerns.

However, while being very effective at straightening teeth, severe bite problems may require more than just clear aligners. When extractions and or significant corrections to the bite are needed, other types of appliances may have to be used before or in conjunction with the clear aligners.

What if my case is more “serious”?

Certain complex cases may require more than just the use of clear aligners. The good news is that even when an additional appliance must be used, there is always the possibility of combining the two together. Also, many of these additional appliances are very inconspicuous, so that it will still be hardly noticeable that you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Who cannot have clear aligners?

The patient’s gums must be healthy prior to beginning any orthodontic treatment and clear aligner therapy is no exception to that rule.

In addition, because the appliances can easily be removed, the success of the treatment is in the hands of the patient who must wear them as prescribed. Someone who has difficulty in wearing the appliances for the required time or that frequently loses their aligners is not a desirable candidate for this type of treatment.

Finally, severely rotated, severely spaced and severely crowded teeth as well as children requiring interceptive treatment are best treated by other means.

Does treatment take longer than conventional braces?

Teeth require the same time to respond to forces used to move them regardless of the type of appliance being used. So it typically takes approximately the same amount of time as when using conventional braces to complete treatment. Clear aligners are however more effective for some types of movements and less for others (severe rotations for example) and may require several « course corrections » . These corrections are required when the teeth are no longer tracking to the shape of the trays. Additional time is then required to have a new set of aligners fabricated.

How much do clear aligners cost?

You can find our fees HERE

The fee for aligner treatment varies according to the severity of the problem and as you can see, our fees are very competitive.

The use of digital intra-oral scanners has helped to streamline the process and therefore saves us time and money. And, as is our philosophy at Le Dentiste, we pass the savings onto you.

Furthermore, there now exist a multitudeof clear aligner manufacturers and we are therefore often able to quote you more than one fee for an identical treatment.