How Do Clear Aligners and Invisalign Work?

Clear aligners, including Invisalign, are a popular way to straighten teeth without the brackets and wires of traditional braces. But if you’ve never had them before, it’s reasonable to wonder: how do they actually work?

Here’s a straightforward look at the process.

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are a series of custom-made, transparent plastic trays that fit snugly over your teeth. Each tray is slightly different from the last, designed to apply gentle, controlled pressure that moves your teeth a small amount at a time.

Over the course of treatment, you progress through the full series — and your teeth gradually shift into the target positions.

Step by Step

1. Consultation Your first visit is an evaluation. Dr. Fung reviews your bite, alignment, and goals to determine whether clear aligners are the right fit for your case.

2. Digital Scan No messy impressions. A digital scanner creates a precise 3D model of your teeth, which is used to plan your treatment and fabricate your custom trays.

3. Custom Treatment Plan Using the scan, Dr. Fung maps out the movement of each tooth over the course of treatment. You can often see a preview of your projected final smile before you even start.

4. Receiving Your Aligners Your custom set of trays arrives, and treatment begins. You’ll typically receive several sets at once to use in sequence.

5. Wearing Your Aligners For aligners to work, they need to be worn 20–22 hours per day. You remove them to eat, drink anything besides water, and brush your teeth — then put them back in. Each set is worn for about one to two weeks before you move to the next.

6. Progress Check Visits You’ll visit our New Hyde Park office periodically so Dr. Fung can confirm your teeth are tracking correctly and adjust the plan if needed. This is one of the reasons working with an orthodontist matters — not just getting trays from a mail-order service.

7. Retention Once treatment is complete, you’ll wear a retainer to maintain your results. This step is just as important as the treatment itself — without retention, teeth can shift back over time.

The Key to Success: Consistency

Clear aligners work best when worn consistently. The 20–22 hour requirement isn’t a suggestion — missed hours add up and can slow your progress or cause drift between trays.

If compliance may be a concern, that’s worth discussing at your consultation. For patients who prefer not to manage removable trays, traditional braces may be a better fit.

Invisalign at Nexus Orthodontics

Invisalign is the most widely used clear aligner brand and the one Dr. Fung works with at Nexus Orthodontics. The precision and customization of the treatment plan matters — which is why working with a trained, experienced orthodontist makes a significant difference compared to direct-to-consumer aligner companies.

For a more detailed look at the Invisalign process specifically, see our step-by-step Invisalign guide.

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re curious whether clear aligners are right for you, the best first step is a consultation.

Schedule an appointment at Nexus Orthodontics in New Hyde Park.

— Dr. Shauna Fung, DDS, Board-Certified Orthodontist Nexus Orthodontics, New Hyde Park, NY