Clear aligners, also called invisible braces, are a series of custom-made transparent trays. Each tray is worn for one to two weeks and moves the teeth a fraction of a millimetre before the next in the series takes over. The full sequence is planned digitally before the first tray is made.
They are removable, which means eating and brushing are unchanged, but that also makes them dependent on the patient. Aligners work only when worn for 20 to 22 hours a day.
When clear aligners is the right treatment
- Mild to moderate crowding or spacing
- Adults who do not want visible fixed braces at work
- Relapse after earlier orthodontic treatment
- Patients who want to see the planned result before starting
What the treatment involves
- 1
Records and scan
Photographs, X-rays and an intraoral scan or impressions are taken to build an accurate digital model of your bite.
- 2
Digital treatment plan
The whole sequence of movements is planned on that model, so you can see the projected end position before any tray is manufactured.
- 3
Wearing the trays
Each tray is worn 20 to 22 hours a day and changed on schedule. Small tooth-coloured attachments may be bonded to some teeth to give the trays grip.
- 4
Reviews
Periodic checks every six to eight weeks to confirm the teeth are tracking to plan. Refinement trays are made if a tooth lags.
- 5
Retention
A retainer after treatment is not optional. Teeth relapse towards their old position without one.
Cost
Aligner cost scales with the number of trays, which scales with the complexity of the case.
See clear aligner cost in Lucknow →Questions patients ask
Questions patients ask about braces and clear aligners
- Clear aligners or braces: which is better?
- What is the best age for braces?
- Veneers or braces for crooked teeth?
- How long do braces take?
- Do I need a retainer after braces, and which type?
- What types of braces are there?
- Metal or ceramic braces: which is better?
- Do braces change your face shape?
- What are the side effects of braces?
- Do braces hurt, and what can I eat?
- Do braces for overbite work?
- Do clear aligners work, and what can't they fix?
- Are self-ligating braces better than regular braces?
- What are lingual braces, and who are they for?
- What is orthodontic wax, and how do you use it?
- What is the right way of brushing with braces?
- What do braces rubber bands do?
- Can adults get braces?
- What are metal braces and how do they work?
- What causes crooked teeth, and can they be fixed?
- What is an overbite?
- What is an underbite, and how is it treated?
- What are aligners, and how do they straighten teeth?
- What is overjet, and how is it treated?
- What does malocclusion mean?
- What are buck teeth (proclined teeth), and can they be corrected?
- What is a narrow jaw, and can it be corrected?
- What causes an asymmetrical jaw, and does it need treatment?
- What is an orthodontist and what do they do?
- What is a crossbite, and does it need to be fixed?
- What is a palatal expander, and how does it work?
- What is a snaggle tooth, and can it be fixed?
- What is a deep bite, and how is it treated?
- What is an open bite, and can it be corrected?
- What is a permanent retainer, and how does it compare with clear and removable retainers?
- What is headgear for braces, and when is it used?
- What is an impacted canine, and how is it treated?
- What does occlusion mean in dentistry?
- What causes a gap between teeth and how can it be closed?
- Braces Cost in Lucknow
- Clear Aligner Cost in Lucknow
- Retainer Cost in Lucknow
Clear Aligners: common questions
How long does clear aligner treatment take?
Commonly six to eighteen months depending on how much movement is needed. Minor crowding can finish faster; complex bite correction takes longer.
Are aligners as effective as braces?
For mild to moderate crowding, spacing and alignment, aligners handle the case well. Severe skeletal discrepancies, large rotations and cases needing significant extraction space closure are often still better served by fixed braces. That call is made at assessment.
Do aligners affect speech?
Most people adapt within a few days. A slight lisp in the first week is common and settles.
What happens if I do not wear them enough?
The teeth stop tracking with the trays, the sequence stops fitting, and treatment either stalls or needs re-planning. Wear time is the single biggest predictor of a good aligner result.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.