Invisalign
Invisalign Clear Aligners
Clear aligners move teeth with a series of nearly invisible trays you can remove to eat and brush. For most adults and many teens, they are a genuinely comfortable alternative to brackets and wires.
- Digital scanning — no impression trays
- See your projected result before starting
- Removable for meals, sports and photos
- Typical treatment of 6 to 18 months
How the process works
We take a digital scan of your teeth and build a virtual treatment plan showing each stage of movement. You will see the projected final position at your consultation, before committing to anything.
You then wear each set of aligners for one to two weeks, twenty to twenty-two hours a day. Check-ins every six to eight weeks confirm the teeth are tracking as planned.
What aligners can and cannot fix
Crowding, spacing, mild-to-moderate overbite and openbite, and relapse after childhood braces all respond well. Severe skeletal discrepancies and complex rotations sometimes still need fixed appliances or an orthodontic referral, and we will say so plainly at your consultation.
Straighter teeth are also easier to clean, which lowers your long-term risk of decay and gum disease — see our preventive care page for the maintenance side of that equation.
Retention matters
Teeth drift for life. Every case finishes with a retainer plan, and we build the cost of your first retainers into the treatment fee so nothing is a surprise at the end.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does Invisalign take?
- Most cases at our practice complete in six to eighteen months depending on complexity and how consistently the aligners are worn.
- Do aligners affect speech?
- A slight lisp is common for the first few days and almost always resolves as your tongue adapts.
- Can I whiten my teeth during treatment?
- Yes, and many patients do so near the end. We will coordinate the timing so results stay even.
Explore related care
Ready when you are
New patients are welcome at Charlotte Harbor Dental. Call us or send a message and we will find a time that works.