Invisalign/Clear aligners are virtually invisible. They are the clear alternative to braces in Canberra.

Young man with curly hair and a goatee smiling, holding a clear earplug in his hand, standing against a beige background.

Invisalign are a series of aligners that gently move your teeth to their ideal position. The aligners are robotically engineered to fit you perfectly!

This makes them a very comfortable and aesthetic orthodontic treatment option. The aligners are changed regularly, and can be removed to eat and clean. The clear aligner process involves:

  1. Diagnosing, treatment planning and assessing suitability of the case.

  2. Taking orthodontic records, including a 3D digital scan.

  3. ClinCheck digital planning and modifications by our Specialist Orthodontists.

  4. Plan acceptance.

  5. Bonding of attachments on select teeth to achieve ideal tooth movement.

  6. Issue of clear aligners.

  7. Routine aligner checks, which are overseen by our Specialist Orthodontists.

  8. Refinements, when necessary to achieve the optimal result.

Although Invisalign/clear aligners are a very popular treatment option, particularly amongst our adult patients, there are some cases that are not suitable for this treatment option. Our highly skilled Specialist Orthodontists are very experienced at deciding which appliance will achieve the best outcome for you.

Some Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign

  • The duration you wear each aligner varies depending on what orthodontic movements we are trying to achieve. Generally we get you to change your Invisalign aligners every 1-2 weeks.

  • No, we recommend you remove your Invisalign to eat and drink. If you are drinking cold water, then that is ok, but anything else will act as a harbour for food and bacteria and can lead to tooth decay. It will also stain the aligners.

  • The number of aligners in a given treatment plan varies according to the complexity of the case. Generally our orthodontist will only issue you 3-4 aligners at a time.

  • Generally our orthodontist will issue you with 3-6 aligners at a time. She will still see you every 6-8 weeks to ensure all of the teeth are moving as planned and the aligners are fitting nicely.

  • Attachments are small amounts of material that are glue on your teeth that require more complex/larger movements. They provide a surface for the Invisalign to grip onto so that the tooth moves.

  • In some circumstances, yes, Invisalign is suitable for teenagers, however it is very case dependent. Invisalign requires a compliant patient, and one who will not lose the aligners for them to work. Due to the busy schedule of teenagers, commonly braces are recommended as they are fixed on the teeth. If you are wondering if Invisalign is suitable for your teenager, we encourage you to make an appointment with our orthodontist Dr Elise McConnell who will discuss all options.

  • The answer to this is very case dependent. For more complex tooth movements, braces are likely to be recommended. For milder cases, very good results can still be achieved with Invisalign.

  • The initial process is very straightforward. After your first aligner is issued, you will feel like the aligner sits snugly on your teeth. After a few hours the teeth will start moving, and you will start to feel some tenderness. Each time the aligner is changed, you will feel tightness and tenderness. Over-the- counter pain relief like panadol or neurofen can be used to manage the discomfort.

  • If you lose one of your aligners, please contact our orthodontic clinic. It is likely we will arrange an appointment to see you and test whether the following aligner will fit properly. If the following aligner will not fit, we will need to order a replacement aligner for you.