Clear Aligners in Reston, Virginia
Clear aligners are a set of smooth, transparent trays that move your teeth into position a little at a time. They correct crowding, spacing and many bite concerns, and because the trays are close to invisible on the teeth, most people around you will never notice you are in treatment. We use the SureSmile aligner system at our practice in Reston.
How Clear Aligner Treatment Works
- Diagnosis. We take X-rays, clinical photographs and a 3D digital scan of your teeth. The scan replaces the old putty impressions and takes only a few minutes.
- Your digital plan. From the scan we build a virtual treatment plan. It shows how your teeth will move stage by stage, and what the final result will look like before anything begins.
- Reviewing it together. We go through the plan with you, answer your questions, and adjust it if there is something you would like to change.
- Wearing your aligners. You receive several sets of trays at a time and change them yourself, usually every one to two weeks. The trays need to be worn about 22 hours a day, which means taking them out only to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush.
- Retention. Once your teeth are where they should be, a retainer keeps them there. We will explain what to wear and for how long in your case.
Why Patients Choose Clear Aligners
Appearance
The main reason most of our patients ask about invisible braces is simple. The trays are transparent and sit close against the teeth, so they stay discreet in meetings, in photographs and in everyday conversation.
Comfort
There are no brackets, wires, hooks or sharp edges, so the soft tissue of the lips and cheeks is far less likely to be irritated than with a fixed appliance. Aligners also move each tooth as a whole rather than pushing on one small bonded point, and most patients find that any tenderness after changing trays settles within a day or two.
Everyday convenience
You take the trays out to eat, which means no food caught around brackets and no list of things you are not allowed to enjoy. Sticky and hard foods that would loosen a bracket are simply not an issue. Brushing and flossing stay exactly as they were, since the trays come out twice a day for cleaning. And if something important comes up, you can remove them for a short while.
Keeping enamel healthy
Because you can clean your teeth normally throughout treatment, keeping plaque under control is much more straightforward than it is around fixed brackets. That matters, since good hygiene during orthodontic treatment is what protects the enamel and the gums over the long run.
Seeing the result in advance
The digital plan gives you a model of your teeth before, during and after treatment. You can look at the projected outcome and each intermediate stage before committing to anything, which makes the decision a lot easier to weigh up.
Fewer trips to the office
You receive enough trays to cover several months, so there is no monthly wire adjustment to schedule around. You come in for a check so we can confirm everything is tracking as planned and hand over your next sets.
Materials
The trays are made from a hypoallergenic polymer, which makes them a practical option for patients who have had a reaction to metal appliances in the past.
Clear Aligners or Braces?
Both move teeth, and both work. Aligners suit patients who want treatment to stay discreet, who would rather not change their diet, and who are comfortable being disciplined about wear time, because the trays only work while they are actually in your mouth. Braces handle certain complex movements and severe bite corrections more predictably, and they never get left in a napkin at lunch. There is no single better option, only the one that fits your case and your habits, and that is what the consultation is for.
A Note on Mail-Order Aligners
Clear Braces for Adults
Children and Teens
What Shapes the Cost of Treatment
The price of clear aligner treatment depends on how far your teeth have to travel, how many trays your plan calls for, and how long you will be in treatment. A minor correction of the front teeth and a full bite correction are very different pieces of work, and it would not be fair to quote you one figure for both.
There is also less to buy along the way. Aligners need no orthodontic brushes, interdental picks or relief wax, so the ongoing costs of treatment stay low.
After your consultation and scan you receive a written treatment plan with an itemised estimate. Many dental plans contribute toward orthodontic treatment, and we will review your benefits with you beforehand. Aligner treatment is generally an eligible expense under HSA and FSA accounts, and financing is available for patients who would rather spread the cost.
