Clear Aligners
Clear aligners offer a discreet and comfortable way to straighten your teeth without the need for conventional metal braces.
At Smile Doctor Dental Clinic in Ara Damansara, we specialize in providing high-quality invisible aligners that are custom-made to fit your teeth perfectly, ensuring effective and efficient orthodontic treatment. Achieve a straighter smile with the convenience and aesthetics of clear aligners.
What are Clear aligners?
Clear aligners are a modern orthodontic treatment that uses a series of custom-made, transparent plastic trays to gradually move teeth into their desired positions.
There are many types and brands of clear aligners available in the market eg. Invisalign, Angel align, One smile etc. Each has their own unique selling points and are reputable brands.
Unlike conventional metal braces, clear aligners are virtually invisible and can be removed for eating, drinking, and oral hygiene.
Benefits of Clear aligners
Discreet Appearance
Made from 3D printed clear plastic, aligners are virtually invisible, making them an excellent option for those concerned about aesthetics.
Comfortable
Smooth plastic teeth aligners cause less irritation to gums and cheeks compared to metal brackets. No more sharp wires poking, causing ulcers and difficulty to eat.
Removable
Clear aligners can be taken out for meals and cleaning, allowing for easier maintenance of oral hygiene and fewer dietary restrictions. Brushing and flossing can be done as usual without worries of food stuck causing tooth decay.
Predictable Results
Advanced 3D imaging technology allows for precise planning and predictable treatment outcomes.
The Treatment Process
First visit: Initial consultation
The dentist will conduct a thorough evaluation of your dental structure and discuss suitable treatment options. Any scaling and fillings are to be done at this stage before the 3D scan for the aligners to ensure precise fitting.
Photos, X-rays and mold of your teeth will be taken as a record to customise your treatment plan.
After the initial consultation, treatment plan will be ready in a week’s time. Usually the decision of whether extraction of teeth is needed or not will be done after the treatment plan.
Second visit: Treatment plan confirmation
A detailed 3D model of your treatment outcome will be created, allowing you to visualize the predicted results. You will have the opportunity to review and make any necessary adjustments. Once you are satisfied with the plan, the custom clear aligners will be fabricated.
Third visit: Attachment placement and aligners issue
Your teeth will be cleaned and polished to prepare for the placement of attachments. These tooth-colored attachments help the aligners grip your teeth more effectively, enabling more complex tooth movements. You will receive detailed instructions on how to put on and remove the aligners, as well as how to clean and maintain them.
The recommended wear time for each set of clear aligners is 22 hours per day for 7-10 days. This means that you should only remove them for eating, drinking, and brushing your teeth. If you wear them for less than the recommended time, you may need to extend your wear time for a few more days to ensure proper alignment and avoid offtracking of your teeth.
Fourth visit: First month review
Treatment Completion
Caring for your aligners
Maintain Oral Hygiene
It is recommended to floss and rinse after every meal before putting on your aligners to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing and flossing diligently will help to keep your teeth and clear aligners clean and away from stains.
Adhere to Dietary Guidelines
Good news is for clear aligners, there are no strict dietary restrictions. However we do recommend to avoid anything too hard as the teeth will be slightly loose during the treatment.
The aligners are made up of plastic materials so hot food should be avoided while wearing them. Also be sure not to take any sugary food with your aligners on as it can easily cause cavities.
Store Properly
As the transparent aligners are virtually invisible, you should keep your aligners in their protective case when not in use to prevent damage and loss.
Regular Check-Ups
Attend all scheduled aligner review appointments for necessary adjustments and progress monitoring. Monthly reviews are crucial to ensure your teeth are moving as planned. For those with busy schedule, aligner reviews can be done up to every 3 months.
New sets of aligners will be provided during these visits. If any off-tracking is detected, a new 3D scan will be performed, and new aligners will be created to keep your treatment on track.
FAQ for Clear aligners
For optimal results, aligners should be worn 20-22 hours a day, removing them only for eating, drinking and brushing.
Treatment typically lasts from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the severity of your case. Since this treatment requires discipline, failing to wear the aligners for the recommended 22 hours a day can increase the treatment duration.
Yes! We are equipped with a 3D intraoral scanner that can show you the before and possible after result of your clear aligners treatment.
It depends on the severity of your dental malalignment as well as the protrusion of your lips. If you are not happy with your facial profile, and you find that your lips are protruded outwards, you may need extraction to bring the teeth inwards during the treatment.
However there are also other ways such as distalizing with clear aligner, en mass retraction with screw and so on to move the teeth backwards.
While we would love to claim that clear aligners treatment are painless, they can cause some discomfort. You may feel tightness during the first 1-2 days after changing to a new set of aligners, which can cause temporary discomfort when eating.
Fortunately, clear aligners do not have brackets or wires like conventional braces, so they typically do not cause ulcers that require emergency visits to the dentist.
Unlike conventional braces, which require monthly tightening, we can provide up to 3 months’ worth of clear aligner sets for those with busy schedules. However, we still recommend monthly visits to ensure the treatment is progressing as planned.
Every morning and night, when you remove your clear aligners for brushing, clean them using a soft toothbrush with mouthwash. Avoid using toothpaste, as it can damage the aligners and cause unwanted tooth movements. You can also soak them in water with a retainer tablet to keep them free of stains.
Yes, clear retainers help maintain the new position of your teeth and prevent them from shifting back. Retainers are worn full time for the first 3 months after braces removal and is switched to night time wear only after that.
Generally the teeth will shift around after not wearing the retainers for some time. If you want to maintain the clear aligner result, retainers will need to be worn life long.
Clear aligner treatment is generally safe. Initially, you may experience temporary difficulty speaking due to the thickness of the aligners. However, with some time and practice, you should adjust and be comfortable within a month.
The cost of clear aligners will depend on your location. Generally, different types of braces can cost as follows:
- Conventional metal braces: Approximately RM5000-6000
- Self ligating braces/ Damon braces: Approximately RM7000-10000
- Clear aligners: Approximately RM6000-24000