Invisalign Clear Aligners

How Invisalign Treatment Works

Your first visit is an assessment: an exam, photographs, and a digital scan of your teeth, plus a check that your gums and teeth are healthy enough to start. Active decay or gum disease has to be treated first, because moving teeth in an unhealthy mouth causes problems rather than solving them.

From that scan we map the full sequence of movements and show you the projected outcome. Once you approve the plan, your custom aligners are manufactured. You wear each set for roughly one to two weeks, then move to the next, with short progress check-ins at our Richmond clinic every several weeks. Some cases need small tooth-coloured attachments bonded to a few teeth to grip the aligner and achieve particular movements. These come off at the end.

The Part That Determines Whether It Works

Aligners only move teeth while they are in your mouth. Around twenty to twenty-two hours a day is the expectation: out for meals and brushing, in the rest of the time, including overnight. Patients who treat them as optional get slow, incomplete results and a longer, more expensive treatment. If you know that level of discipline is unrealistic for you or your teenager, fixed braces are genuinely the better choice and we would rather say that at the start.

Invisalign or Traditional Braces?

Clear aligners handle a wide range of crowding, spacing, and mild to moderate bite issues very well. Braces still have the edge for complex bite correction, significant rotations, and for younger patients who will not reliably wear a removable appliance. Neither is better in the abstract. The right answer depends on your teeth and your habits, which is exactly what the consultation is for.

Retainers Come After

Teeth drift back toward their old positions if nothing holds them, so retainers are part of the treatment rather than an upsell at the end. We will explain the retainer plan before you start, so it is priced into your decision.

Cost, Insurance, and CDCP

Invisalign is priced by case complexity and the number of aligners your plan requires, so a mild crowding case and a full bite correction are not comparable. Our fees follow the standard BC Dental Association fee guide with no markup, and you will get an exact quote after your scan and before you commit. Many extended health plans include orthodontic coverage. We bill providers directly and can help you check your limits.

Book an Invisalign Consultation in Richmond, BC

Find us at 6011 No. 1 Road, Unit 120, in Terra Nova, Richmond, with free on-site parking and Saturday appointments. Our team speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Farsi. Call (604) 238-6666 to book a clear aligner assessment. If your main concern is the colour or shape of your front teeth rather than their position, whitening or veneers may be a faster route, and we are happy to compare all three with you.

Common Questions

How long does Invisalign take?

Mild cases can finish in around six months; more involved cases run twelve to eighteen months or longer. Your scan gives us a realistic estimate before you start.

Does Invisalign hurt?

There is usually a feeling of pressure or tightness for a day or two after switching to a new set. That is the teeth moving, and it settles quickly.

Can I eat and drink with my aligners in?

Water only. Everything else, including coffee, tea and anything sugary, goes in with the trays out, both to protect the plastic from staining and to protect your teeth from sugar trapped against them.

Will anyone be able to tell I am wearing them?

Rarely, in normal conversation. Attachments and the tray edges are visible up close if someone is looking for them.

Is Invisalign suitable for teenagers?

Often yes, provided they will genuinely wear the aligners. We are honest with families about this, because compliance is the whole ballgame.

What if my teeth shifted after braces years ago?

That is one of the most common reasons adults come in. Relapse cases are often straightforward and short compared with full initial treatment.