Patient guide
A Practical Guide to Clear Aligners & Invisalign
Learn who may be a candidate for clear aligners, how digital planning and refinements work, and why retainers and follow-up remain part of treatment.
Reviewed by Scott Schmidhauser, DMD
Canobie Dental offers clear-aligner treatment, including Invisalign when appropriate, for children, teens, and adults whose orthodontic needs are suitable for treatment in our office.
What can clear aligners treat?
Aligners may be used for:
An examination is needed because not every orthodontic problem is equally suited to clear-aligner treatment.
- crowding
- spaces
- teeth that shifted after earlier orthodontic treatment
- selected bite problems
- tooth-position changes before cosmetic or restorative dentistry
Digital planning
A clear-aligner evaluation may include an examination, digital scans, photographs, and diagnostic imaging when indicated.
The digital plan helps map intended tooth movement and explain treatment. A simulation is not a guarantee of the final result.
Wearing the aligners
Treatment depends on wearing the trays as directed and changing them on the prescribed schedule.
Because aligners are removable, brushing and flossing can be easier during orthodontic treatment, but the trays still need to be worn consistently for treatment to progress.
Refinements
Teeth do not always move exactly as predicted.
Some cases need additional scans and refinement aligners. Treatment time varies with the starting problem, goals, biological response, growth, and how consistently the aligners are worn.
Retainers
Teeth can shift after orthodontic treatment.
Retainers are an essential part of maintaining the result. Canobie Dental provides retainers after treatment and can also evaluate lost, broken, worn, or poorly fitting retainers.
Orthodontics as part of a larger plan
Clear aligners can sometimes improve tooth position before bonding, veneers, crowns, or dental implants and allow the restorative treatment to remain more conservative.
Next step
Plan a visit to our Newport office
Canobie Dental is accepting new patients. View appointment information or call with questions.