Clear aligners transform your oral health.
A transformation of the smile, the bite and long-term dental stability.
The aligners are how the plan gets carried out.
Clear aligner therapy moves teeth with a series of custom aligners. Each set applies gentle, planned pressure. You change to the next set as your teeth shift, until they reach the planned position.
The aligners are how the plan gets carried out. The plan is the treatment.
Invisalign® is one clear aligner system within that. I am Caleb Martin, DMD, a certified Invisalign® provider. The consultation is about whether aligners can meet your goals, not about picking a brand.
Aligners can help. They are not right for everyone.
Aligners can help with crowding, spacing, and many bite concerns. Some people want a more even smile. Others have crowded teeth that are hard to clean, or a bite that is wearing their teeth.
Gum disease or decay may need treatment first. Some bite problems are too complex for aligners and need another approach. Crowns, bridges, and implants change how teeth can move. If aligners aren’t the right tool, I’ll tell you, and I’ll explain what would work better.
Scan, question, preview, then the exam.
A digital scan. A small handheld scanner records your teeth and bite in 3D. There are no putty impressions.
The smile question. I’ll ask what you’d like to change about your smile. Your answer sets the goal for the plan.
You see the result. The scan becomes a preview of the planned tooth movement. You can see where your teeth are now, the path they’d take, and where they’d finish.
Then the exam. I’ll tell you what the problem is, whether clear aligners fit, how long treatment is likely to take once the plan is reviewed, and whether other care should come first or alongside, such as gum treatment or a filling. I’ll point out what I see in your bite and why it matters. Photos and X-rays are taken when they’re needed.
What treatment can include.
Attachments. Some plans use small tooth-colored attachments. They help the aligners grip and guide certain teeth. If your plan includes them, I’ll explain that before we start.
Slenderizing. Some plans need a little space made between teeth. If yours does, I’ll explain it before we start.
Wear time. Aligners are usually worn about 20–22 hours a day. Take them out to eat and to clean your teeth.
Soreness. Pressure or soreness for a day or two after a new set is common. Call us if you have sharp pain, sores that don’t heal, or an aligner that won’t fit.
Additional aligners. If teeth don’t move as planned, the plan can include additional aligners. I’ll tell you if that’s needed.
Retainers. Teeth can drift once they’ve moved. Retainers hold the result, and many people wear them at night long term. Retention is planned before treatment ends.
Between visits
Most progress checks happen in the office. You come in, we look at your teeth in the aligners, and we decide the next step together.
Some routine checks can be done from home. Your phone sends us photos of your teeth in your aligners. We set that up with you when it makes sense, usually at the visit where you get your first aligners.
Green. Your teeth are on track. Move ahead to the next aligner.
Yellow. Stay in the current aligner a little longer, or step back one, and follow our instructions.
Red. Come in. Something needs a closer look in the office.
A photo check-in doesn’t replace a clinical exam. If an aligner breaks, gets lost, or stops fitting, call the practice before moving ahead in your series. Call for anything that feels wrong, too.
Questions worth asking.
Am I a candidate?
Maybe. It depends on your gums, any decay, how complex the bite is, and whether you have crowns, bridges, or implants. I’ll tell you at the visit.
What’s the difference between Invisalign® and clear aligners?
Clear aligners are the treatment. Invisalign® is one system that makes them. I’m a certified Invisalign® provider. The question is still whether aligners fit your goals.
How long does it take?
It depends on the plan. I’ll give you an estimate after we’ve reviewed it. I don’t give a fixed length before that.
Does it hurt?
Pressure or soreness for a day or two with a new set is common. Sharp pain is not. Call us if something feels wrong.
How do check-ins work?
Most are in the office. Some can be photos from your phone. Green means move ahead. Yellow means stay or step back. Red means come in.
Do I need retainers?
Yes, if you want the result to stay. Teeth can drift. Many people wear retainers at night long term.
Further reading: ADA: orthodontics.