Clear Aligners: Five Questions to Ask Before You Start

Clear aligners look simple: a series of thin, see-through trays that gradually move your teeth. The simplicity is part of the appeal, and also the reason people start without asking enough. Behind the trays sit a plan, a bite, a routine and a finish, and each one deserves a question before you commit.

Here are five worth asking at any consultation, ours or anyone else's. Under each is what a good answer sounds like.

1. Are aligners right for my teeth, or is something else better?

The American Dental Association (ADA) says braces and aligners are the two appliances orthodontists most commonly use to guide teeth into position, and that the kind of treatment you have depends on your preference and the options your dentist or orthodontist gives you (ADA MouthHealthy). So ask for the options, not just the one on offer.

A good answer says what your teeth need, and why. In our experience aligners work well for teeth that are a little crooked, crowded or gapped; whether they are the right choice for a more complex bite is something only an examination can say. A good answer also looks at the health of your teeth and gums first: the ADA says healthy teeth can be treated orthodontically at any age (ADA MouthHealthy). If the problem is the look of a tooth rather than its position, a different treatment may be the answer (Veneers, Bonding or Clear Aligners). Clear Aligners for Adults: Are You a Candidate? goes through who they suit.

2. What will it ask of me every day, and how long might it take?

Aligners are removable, which is their strength and also their risk: they only work while they are in your mouth. Ask how many hours a day you are expected to wear them, what you do at meals, and how you clean them. The Oral Health Foundation notes that good oral hygiene is essential during orthodontic treatment, and that you should keep seeing your dentist for check-ups (Oral Health Foundation). Our guides cover how to care for aligners day to day and what to eat and drink.

On time, be wary of any promise made before an examination. The Oral Health Foundation says treatment time depends on how complex the problem is, and that orthodontic treatment can range from several months to around two and a half years. Ask for an estimate for your teeth, and ask what could make it longer, such as aligners not worn as planned. How Long Does Clear Aligner Treatment Take? explains what the length depends on.

3. Who plans my treatment, and who follows my case?

The ADA describes removable aligners as an option under the direct supervision of a dentist or orthodontist, and says treatment may be provided by either one, depending on their orthodontic experience and the severity of your case (ADA MouthHealthy).

So ask three plain things:

• Who will examine my teeth and plan the movements?
• Will I see the whole plan, including the final position, before the first aligner is made?
• Who do I contact, and how, if a tray does not fit or I have a problem?

At Mineers, the aligners are Fixaligner®. Your teeth are scanned once in 3D, the whole treatment is worked out on screen so that you can see each step and the result before you start, and the aligners are 3D printed here at the clinic from your plan. Progress is followed through an app, and visits are kept to a few. Our clear aligners page shows the steps.

4. What exactly does the quote include?

Two aligner quotes can describe quite different things. Before you compare them, ask what each one covers:

• The scan and the planning.
• All the aligners in the plan, and what happens if the plan needs adjusting part-way.
• Check-ups and follow-up visits.
• The retainer afterwards, and a replacement if one is lost.

In the Oral Health Foundation's description of an orthodontic assessment, the orthodontist explains your options, how long treatment may take, and the costs. If a quote is a single number with no list, ask for the list. At Mineers, every plan is different, so the cost is discussed at your consultation once your teeth have been examined and your treatment is planned. The same habit applies to other treatments: Why Two Veneer Quotes Can Look So Different shows how to line quotes up side by side.

5. What happens after the last aligner?

This is the question most people forget, and the one that protects the result. The ADA says retainers preserve and stabilize the results of orthodontic treatment (ADA MouthHealthy). The NHS explains that a retainer stops the teeth moving back to their original position, and that the orthodontist will tell you how long to wear it (NHS).

The Oral Health Foundation describes a common pattern: day and night at first, then usually at night, long term. It also warns that if retainers are not worn as advised, teeth can move back (Oral Health Foundation).

So ask:

• What kind of retainer will I have, and when do I get it?
• How long should I wear it, and how often?
• What do I do if I lose or break it, and who makes the next one?

A clinic that has an answer ready for these has thought about the end of your treatment as well as the beginning.

Take the list with you

1. Are aligners right for my teeth, or is something else better?
2. What will it ask of me every day, and how long might it take?
3. Who plans my treatment, and who follows my case?
4. What exactly does the quote include?
5. What happens after the last aligner?

The answers will tell you how a clinic works. Would you like to ask us? Book a private consultation or send a few clear photos of your smile on WhatsApp, +961 3 757 127. How to Send a Photo of Your Smile shows which ones help.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Treatment plans and results vary from person to person.