Clear Aligners

Clear aligners move teeth gradually using a personalised sequence of removable transparent trays. Each aligner is designed to guide selected tooth movements before the patient progresses to the next stage of treatment.

At Bourgeois Dental Clinic in Dubai, clear-aligner suitability is based on the complexity of the alignment and bite problem, gum and bone health, tooth shape, previous dental work, patient cooperation, and the predictability of the planned movements.

What Can Clear Aligners Treat?

Clear aligners may be considered for selected cases involving:

• Mild to moderate crowding
• Rotated teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Relapse after previous orthodontics
• Selected deep-bite concerns
• Selected open-bite concerns
• Selected crossbites
• Minor alignment before bonding, veneers, crowns, bridges, or implants

Suitability depends on the individual movement required. Not every case can be treated predictably with removable aligners alone.

How Do Clear Aligners Work?

1. Assessment: Teeth, gums, bite, jaw relationships, and dental health are examined.
2. Records: Digital scans or impressions, photographs, and imaging may be completed.
3. Digital planning: The proposed tooth movements and sequence are designed.
4. Aligner production: A series of trays is prepared for the planned stages.
5. Active wear: Each tray is worn for the prescribed period before changing to the next.
6. Monitoring: Appointments assess fit, movement, oral health, and cooperation.
7. Refinement when needed: Additional records and trays may be required.
8. Retention: Retainers help maintain the final positions.

How Many Hours Should Aligners Be Worn?

Aligners generally need to be worn for most of the day and night, according to the dentist’s instructions, and removed mainly for eating, drinking selected beverages, brushing, and cleaning.

Inconsistent wear may cause poor tray fit, delayed movement, unwanted tooth movement, or the need for additional aligners.

What Are Aligner Attachments?

Attachments are small tooth-coloured shapes bonded temporarily to selected teeth. They may help the aligner grip the tooth and produce particular movements.

Not every tooth or patient requires the same attachments, and they may make the aligners slightly more visible.

Will Space Need to Be Created?

Space may be created through:

• Moving teeth within the available arch
• Controlled arch development in suitable cases
• Minor enamel reduction between selected teeth when clinically appropriate
• Moving teeth away from crowded areas
• Extraction in selected cases

The method depends on crowding, gum and bone limits, facial profile, tooth size, bite, and long-term stability.

Are Clear Aligners Suitable for Complex Cases?

Some complex cases may be treated with clear aligners, but others may require fixed braces, additional appliances, tooth extraction, restorative treatment, or combined planning.

The choice should be based on predictability and safety rather than visibility alone.

Can Clear Aligners Correct Bite Problems?

They may improve selected overbite, crossbite, open-bite, or tooth-position-related bite concerns.

Severe jaw-related problems may require growth-related planning, fixed appliances, restorative treatment, or combined surgical assessment.

Are Clear Aligners Painful?

Temporary pressure or tenderness may occur when starting a new tray. Mild irritation can also develop around the cheeks, tongue, or gums.

Severe pain, significant swelling, trauma, or an aligner cutting deeply into tissue should be assessed.

Can You Eat While Wearing Aligners?

Aligners are generally removed for meals and snacks unless the dentist gives different instructions.

Eating with trays may damage or stain them and trap food against the teeth.

What Can You Drink With Aligners?

Water is generally the safest drink while trays are in place. Coloured, sugary, acidic, or hot drinks may stain or deform trays and increase the risk of decay when trapped underneath.

Follow the clinic’s instructions for beverages, cleaning, and tray replacement.

How Should Aligners Be Cleaned?

• Rinse them with suitable cool or lukewarm water
• Clean them gently as instructed
• Avoid very hot water
• Store them in their case when removed
• Do not wrap them in tissue where they may be discarded
• Keep them away from pets and heat
• Brush and floss before reinserting them when possible

What Happens if an Aligner Is Lost or Broken?

Contact the clinic rather than automatically skipping several stages or forcing a tray that does not fit.

The dentist may advise temporary use of the previous aligner, progression to the next aligner, replacement of the lost tray, or a review appointment depending on the treatment stage.

What Are Refinement Aligners?

Refinement aligners are additional trays used when certain teeth have not moved as planned or when further correction is required.

They may require new scans, photographs, attachments, or treatment adjustments. Refinements do not guarantee that every requested movement can be completed.

How Long Does Clear Aligner Treatment Take?

Duration depends on:

• The number and complexity of movements
• The bite correction required
• Daily wear
• Tray fit
• Appointment attendance
• Biological response
• Lost or damaged trays
• Need for refinement aligners

Estimated timing may change as treatment progresses.

What Are the Risks and Limitations?

• Temporary soreness or irritation
• Altered speech during adaptation
• Poor tracking when trays are not worn consistently
• Attachment loss
• Tray staining, cracking, or distortion
• Gum inflammation or decay if hygiene is inadequate
• Gum recession in susceptible areas
• Root shortening in some teeth
• Unplanned or incomplete tooth movement
• Need for refinements, fixed braces, or additional treatment
• Relapse after treatment

Why Are Retainers Needed?

After active aligner treatment, retainers help maintain the corrected tooth positions.

Long-term retention is commonly needed because teeth can shift throughout life.

Clear Aligners and Cosmetic Dentistry

Clear aligners may be used before composite bonding, veneers, crowns, dental implants, bridges, or whitening to improve tooth position and restorative space.

Combined planning can help determine which changes should come from orthodontics and which should come from restorative treatment.

Clear Aligners on Sheikh Zayed Road

Bourgeois Dental Clinic is located on the first floor of Indigo Sky Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Exit 41, near Al Thanya Street in Dubai. The clinic is accessible from Al Barsha, Umm Al Sheif, Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah, Al Quoz, Barsha Heights, The Greens, Dubai Marina, and nearby communities.

Book a clear-aligner consultation for crowded teeth, gaps, rotated teeth, orthodontic relapse, or a discreet removable treatment assessment.