Dental Aligners

Dental aligners are custom-made, clear plastic trays that gradually shift your teeth into their correct positions. Unlike traditional metal braces with wires and brackets, aligners are:

• Nearly invisible— most people won’t notice you’re wearing them
• Removable— take them out to eat, drink, brush, and floss
• Smooth and comfortable— no metal wires to cause cuts or irritation
• Often faster— many patients achieve results more quickly than with conventional braces

At Excel Dental, here’s what to expect:

• Consultation—Your dentist assesses your teeth and determines if aligners are right for you
• Custom treatment plan—Digital scans or impressions are taken to map your tooth movement
• Series of aligners—You receive a series of clear trays, each slightly adjusted from the last
• Wear each set for ~2 weeks—Gradual pressure gently shifts teeth toward the ideal position
• Progress check-ins— Regular visits at Excel Dental to monitor progress
• Retainer—Once treatment ends, a retainer maintains your new alignment

Dental aligners are ideal for adults and teens with mild to moderate alignment issues. Good candidates:

• Have healthy gums with no active gum disease
• Want to straighten teeth discreetly without metal braces
• Are non-smokers or willing to not smoke while wearing aligners
• Are committed to wearing trays for 20–22 hours per day
• Have no severe bite misalignment (which may require traditional orthodontics)

Dental aligners are effective for correcting:

• Crowded teeth— not enough space causes overlapping
• Gapped teeth— spaces between teeth
• Overbite— upper teeth overlap too far over lower teeth
• Underbite— lower teeth sit in front of upper teeth
• Crossbite— upper and lower teeth don’t meet correctly
• Open bite— upper and lower teeth don’t make contact when biting

For effective results, aligners must be worn for 20 to 22 hours per day. They should only be removed for eating, drinking (anything other than water), brushing, and flossing. Consistently wearing them less than this significantly slows treatment progress.

You should remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything except plain water. Food particles and colored or sugary beverages can get trapped under the trays, causing the following:

• Staining of the aligners
• Increased cavity risk
• Bacterial buildup against teeth Always brush your teeth before reinserting your aligners after meals.

Keep your aligners clean with these steps:

• Rinse them with lukewarm water every time you remove them
• Brush them gently with a soft toothbrush and clear soap—never toothpaste (it scratches)
• Soak them in aligner cleaning solution or diluted white vinegar to prevent discoloration
• Never use hot water—it can warp the plastic
• Store them in their case when not in use to prevent damage or loss

Yes. Excel Dental offers aligner treatment for teens as well as adults. Aligners are a popular choice for teenagers who want to avoid the social stigma of metal braces. For teens who may forget to wear them consistently, compliance indicators (small color dots that fade with wear) can help parents and dentists track usage.