Clear aligners are custom-made transparent trays worn over your teeth. Each tray is slightly different from the last, so wearing them in sequence applies gentle, controlled pressure that moves teeth a fraction of a millimetre at a time. Because they are removable and nearly invisible, they have become a popular choice for adults and teenagers who would not consider fixed braces.
What they can treat
Aligners handle crowding, spacing, and many bite problems well. More complex cases — significant rotations of round teeth, large vertical movements, or substantial skeletal discrepancies — may be better treated with fixed braces or a combined approach. Your dentist at Parkway Dental will tell you honestly if aligners are not the right tool for your case rather than compromising the result.
Many treatments use small tooth-coloured bumps called attachments, bonded to certain teeth to give the aligners something to grip so they can produce specific movements. Some cases also need interproximal reduction — a very small amount of enamel polished between teeth to create space.
What to expect
Treatment starts with records: photographs, radiographs and a digital scan. A treatment plan is produced showing the projected tooth movements, and you can usually preview the expected outcome before committing. The trays are then manufactured for your whole sequence.
You will change trays roughly every one to two weeks as directed, with review appointments every six to ten weeks. Most cases run six to eighteen months.
The part that determines success
Aligners only work while they are in your mouth. They must be worn 20 to 22 hours a day — removed for eating, and for drinking anything other than cool water. Inconsistent wear is by far the most common reason treatment stalls or the trays stop fitting, and it cannot be made up later.
Expect pressure or tenderness for a day or two after each new tray; that sensation is the treatment working. A slight lisp in the first few days is common and resolves.
When active treatment finishes you will need retainers, worn as instructed and usually indefinitely at night. Teeth drift back toward their original position throughout life, and retention is what protects the result you paid for.