Clear Aligners – Straighten Your Teeth Discreetly, on Your Terms
Straightening your teeth no longer has to mean wearing visible metal braces. Clear aligners use a series of custom-made, transparent trays that gradually guide your teeth into improved alignment.
Removable for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing, clear aligners offer a discreet orthodontic option for adults and teenagers who want to improve their smile with minimal impact on everyday life.
At Nava Dental Clinic, clear aligner treatment is carefully planned around your teeth, bite, treatment goals, and lifestyle to create a personalised orthodontic journey.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Clear aligners use a series of custom-fitted transparent trays that apply controlled pressure to gradually move your teeth toward their planned positions.
Each aligner is normally worn for a prescribed period before being replaced with the next tray in the sequence.
Each stage makes small, carefully planned adjustments as treatment progresses.
Your treatment is digitally planned from the outset, allowing your dental team to map the intended movement of your teeth and show you a simulation of the planned result before treatment begins.
Are Clear Aligners Suitable for Every Orthodontic Case?
Clear aligners can treat a broad range of orthodontic problems, but they are not automatically the best choice for every patient.
More complex tooth movements, significant bite discrepancies, or certain jaw relationships may be better treated with fixed braces or another orthodontic approach.
Your orthodontic assessment will determine which treatment method provides the most predictable result for your individual case.
Your Clear Aligner Journey: Step by Step
Clear aligner treatment combines digital planning with a sequence of custom-made trays that gradually guide your teeth into their planned positions.
Consultation & Digital Scan
Your dentist or orthodontic specialist examines your teeth and bite and discusses what you would like to change.
Digital scans, photographs, X-rays, or other records may be taken to create your treatment plan.
Preview Your Planned Results
Digital treatment planning software is used to map the intended tooth movements.
Where available, you can view a simulation showing how your teeth are expected to change during treatment.
Receiving Your Aligners
Your custom aligner series is manufactured according to your treatment plan and provided to you in stages or sets.
Your dental team will explain how to insert, remove, wear, and care for them correctly.
Wearing Your Aligners
Aligners are generally worn for around 20–22 hours each day, removing them mainly for eating, drinking anything other than water, and oral hygiene.
You'll change to your next aligner according to the schedule provided by your dental team.
Progress Check-ups
Periodic appointments allow your dentist or orthodontic specialist to check that the teeth are moving as planned and make adjustments if necessary.
Retention
Once active treatment is complete, retainers are provided to help keep your teeth in their new positions.
Wearing your retainers as instructed is important for maintaining your result over the long term.
Clear Aligners vs Traditional Braces
Both clear aligners and traditional braces can straighten teeth, but they differ in appearance, removability, daily care, and the types of cases for which they may be most suitable.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners provide a removable and discreet approach to orthodontic treatment.
Key Features
- Transparent and discreet
- Removable for eating and oral hygiene
- Smooth plastic with no metal brackets or wires
- Few food restrictions because trays are removed for meals
- Requires consistent daily wear
Traditional Braces
Traditional braces are fixed to the teeth and provide continuous, highly controlled orthodontic treatment.
Key Features
- Fixed in place throughout treatment
- Highly effective for many complex movements
- No need to remember to wear an appliance
- Requires additional care when brushing and flossing
- Some hard and sticky foods should be avoided
Clear Aligners or Braces – Which Is Better for You?
Clear aligners can be an excellent choice for patients who value discretion, removability, and flexibility in their daily routine.
Traditional braces may provide more predictable control in certain complex orthodontic cases or where consistent aligner wear may be difficult.
The right choice depends on your bite, tooth positions, treatment goals, lifestyle, and the complexity of the movements required.
Wearing and Caring for Your Aligners
Clear aligners work best when they are worn consistently and kept clean throughout treatment.
Avoid Hot Water When Cleaning Aligners
Clear aligners are made from thermoplastic materials that can potentially distort when exposed to excessive heat.
Use cool or lukewarm water and follow the cleaning instructions provided by your dental team or aligner manufacturer.
How Long Does Clear Aligner Treatment Take?
Treatment time varies depending on the complexity of your case and the amount of tooth movement required.
Many clear aligner treatments take approximately 6–18 months, although simpler cases may finish sooner and more complex cases can take longer.
Wearing your aligners for the recommended number of hours each day is an important part of keeping treatment progressing as planned.
After your digital assessment, your dental team can provide a more personalised treatment timeline based on your individual plan.
Are Clear Aligners Right for You?
Clear aligners may be suitable for adults and teenagers with crowding, spacing, orthodontic relapse, or certain bite concerns who want a more discreet and removable treatment option.
They are particularly well suited to patients who are able to commit to wearing their aligners consistently for the recommended number of hours each day.
Certain complex tooth movements or significant jaw and bite problems may be better treated with fixed braces or another orthodontic approach.
A full orthodontic assessment is the best way to determine whether clear aligners can achieve your treatment goals predictably.
Why Retainers Matter After Clear Aligners
Once your teeth have reached their planned positions, retention becomes an important part of maintaining the result.
Teeth naturally have a tendency to move over time, particularly after active orthodontic treatment.
Retainers help hold the teeth in their corrected positions while the surrounding bone and tissues adapt.
Your dental team will explain which type of retainer is appropriate and how often it should be worn.
Book a Clear Aligner Consultation
Discover whether clear aligners can help straighten your teeth while fitting comfortably around your everyday lifestyle.
Our dental team can assess your teeth and bite, create the necessary digital records, and explain whether clear aligners, traditional braces, or another orthodontic approach is most suitable.
Call: +971 55 539 4091
Frequently Asked Questions
Are clear aligners as effective as braces?
Clear aligners can be highly effective for many orthodontic problems, including crowding, spacing, and selected bite concerns.
Traditional braces may provide more predictable control for some complex tooth movements or bite corrections.
Your orthodontic assessment will determine which system is most suitable for your individual case.
How many hours per day must I wear clear aligners?
Clear aligners are generally worn for approximately 20–22 hours per day.
They are normally removed for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing and flossing your teeth.
Always follow the specific wear schedule provided by your dental team.
How much do clear aligners cost compared with braces?
The cost of clear aligner treatment varies depending on the complexity of your case, treatment duration, number of aligners required, and the orthodontic system used.
Your dental team can provide a personalised quotation after assessing your teeth and creating your treatment plan.
What happens if I lose an aligner?
Contact your dental team as soon as possible if an aligner is lost or damaged.
Depending on where you are in your treatment sequence, you may be advised to temporarily wear your previous aligner, move to another tray, or have a replacement made.
Do not change your treatment schedule without first receiving advice from your dental team.
Can I eat while wearing clear aligners?
Aligners should generally be removed before eating.
Removing them protects the trays from damage and staining and allows you to clean your teeth before reinserting them.
Will I need retainers after clear aligner treatment?
Yes. Retainers are usually required after orthodontic treatment to help maintain the corrected positions of your teeth.
Your dental team will provide a personalised retention plan once active treatment is complete.