Invisalign™ & clear aligners
Clear Aligners, Honestly Assessed
Nearly invisible, removable and comfortable, aligners are a strong option for many cases. The honest word in that sentence is many. We will tell you clearly whether yours is one of them. Scanned, planned and fitted at our Beaconsfield clinic.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Sofia Monter, general dentist with additional orthodontic training · Reviewed October 2026
Weekend appointments: orthodontics and airway checks now run on Saturdays and Sundays.
At a Glance
- Wear time: 20 to 22 hours a day.
- Trays: changed about weekly at home.
- Typical length: six to nine months for simple cases, 12 to 18 for typical ones.
- Best suited to: mild to moderate crowding, spacing and many bite problems.
- Afterwards: retainers, long term.
- Typical cost: most orthodontic and airway treatments here cost $4,000 to $9,750, with an approximate quote at your free consultation.
How Aligner Treatment Works
Your teeth are scanned digitally and the whole movement is planned on screen before anything touches your mouth. You then wear a series of clear custom trays, each nudging the teeth a fraction further, changed roughly weekly at home.
Two realities are worth knowing up front. First, aligners work when they are on your teeth twenty to twenty-two hours a day; they come out for meals and cleaning and go straight back in. Second, most cases involve small tooth-coloured attachments bonded to a few teeth to give the trays grip, and many need a short refinement series at the end to perfect the result. Both are routine, and we would rather you know before you start.
This page is part of our orthodontics in Beaconsfield guide, which explains how we plan every case around breathing and jaw development.
Are You Suitable?
Aligners handle mild to moderate crowding, spacing and many bite problems very well. Some corrections, particularly certain deep bites, rotations and jaw discrepancies, are still done better with braces or a combined approach. Suitability is individual, which is why our answer comes after an examination rather than from a website quiz.
The other suitability question is temperament. Aligners reward consistency and quietly punish forgetfulness. Teens can do brilliantly with them, and some aligner systems include wear indicators that help everyone stay honest. If the discipline sounds like a burden rather than a detail, braces may simply suit you better, and we will say so.
Planned the Same Airway-Aware Way
Aligner plans here get the same assessment as everything else we do: breathing, sleep, jaw position and tongue room considered before tooth movement is designed (Huang & Guilleminault, 2013). Where a dental arch is narrow, aligners can widen it by a modest amount, mostly by tilting the teeth outwards rather than widening the jaw itself, and the result often falls short of the on-screen plan, so we plan for that and check progress. Where the jaw itself is narrow, we will tell you whether expansion or braces would serve you better.
What Do Aligners Cost?
Most orthodontic and airway treatments at Inline Smiles Dental & Orthodontics cost between $4,000 and $9,750, depending on the treatment and how complex the case is. Aligners are comparable to braces for comparable complexity: straightforward cases from a quoted starting figure, with an approximate quote at the free consultation and the exact cost confirmed in writing once records are taken, with interest-free plans and on-the-spot health fund claiming. Start with the free consultation and you will leave knowing whether aligners suit your case and what yours would cost. See our treatment costs guide for what is quoted separately and how payment plans work.
Good to know
Common Questions
Are they really invisible?
Nearly. In conversation most people will not notice them; in close-up photos a sharp eye might. The attachments are tooth-coloured and sit under the tray.
Can I eat normally?
Yes, because the trays come out for meals. Coffee and tea with the trays in will stain them, so they come out for those too. Water is fine.
How long does treatment take?
Simple cases can finish in six to nine months; typical cases run twelve to eighteen. Wear time is the biggest factor you control.
What happens if I lose a tray?
It happens. Depending on timing you move to the next tray early or wear the previous one while a replacement is made. Tell us promptly and it costs little momentum.
Do I need retainers afterwards?
Yes. Retention is part of every orthodontic treatment, aligners included, because teeth drift throughout life.
Can children have clear aligners?
Sometimes. Some aligner systems are designed for children whose adult teeth are still coming through. Suitability depends on the problem and on the child’s willingness to wear the trays, and an examination decides.
I started aligners with a mail-order company. Can you help?
Yes. Bring your trays and any records you have. We will examine your teeth and bite, tell you honestly where things stand, and lay out the options for finishing or correcting treatment.
Find Out if Aligners Suit You
A free consultation with a straight answer: aligners, braces, or nothing yet.
The free orthodontic and airway consultation includes a discussion of your concerns, a visual examination, general information about suitable options and an approximate plan and quote. It does not include diagnostic records, X-rays, photographs or a formal diagnosis; these are quoted separately if you choose to proceed, and your plan and quote may change if they show anything not visible at the examination. No obligation. One complimentary consultation per person. Orthodontic treatment is provided by general dentists with additional orthodontic training.
The research behind this page
- Huang YS, Guilleminault C. Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and the critical role of oral-facial growth. Frontiers in Neurology, 2013.
- Invisalign is a trademark of Align Technology, Inc.
Inline Smiles Dental & Orthodontics: orthodontic treatment provided by our experienced general dentists. Where specialist care is in your best interest, we will tell you and refer you. This page is general information only, not a diagnosis or a personal treatment recommendation. Research findings describe groups, and individual results vary; suitability for any treatment is assessed individually.