What Is Invisalign Clear Aligners?

Invisalign clear aligners, also known as bracket-free orthodontics, are a teeth-straightening method that uses a series of thin, transparent aligners made from specialized dental plastic with high elasticity. These aligners fit closely over the teeth and apply the necessary forces to gradually move them into the correct position without the need for brackets or wires like traditional braces.
This clear orthodontic method was first introduced in 1997 and has a vast database with more than 10 million successful cases to date.
Invisalign is produced based on three proprietary technologies: SmartTrack, SmartForce, and SmartStage. The SmartForce and SmartStage features have been clinically proven to provide optimal effectiveness for tooth movement. With the continuous advancement of Invisalign technology, specialists can accurately calculate and perform each orthodontic stage with the appropriate level of force.
In particular, this modern orthodontic technology allows you to preview the expected results even before starting the treatment.

The Working Mechanism of Invisalign Clear Aligners Compared to Traditional Braces

Invisalign aligners operate according to a pre-planned treatment pathway called ClinCheck. ClinCheck is carefully planned and designed by your orthodontist together with the Invisalign technical team. Each Invisalign aligner corresponds to a specific stage throughout the treatment process.
Invisalign aligners move teeth using a controlled movement mechanism. This means that not only is the amount of tooth movement controlled with each aligner, but the timing of the movement is also precisely managed.
This is the biggest difference between clear aligner orthodontics and traditional braces with brackets and wires.

Who Is Invisalign Clear Aligner Treatment Suitable For?

Invisalign is suitable for various cases of bite misalignment across different age groups, from adults to teenagers. This method is especially convenient for people who require high aesthetics and frequently communicate, such as celebrities, business professionals, and public figures.
Although introduced later than traditional braces, Invisalign clear aligners provide highly effective results with superior aesthetics for the following cases:
  • Underbite;
  • Overbite;
  • Gapped teeth;
  • Mild cases of overbite or underbite when the bite is not too complex;
  • Crooked or crowded teeth.

Comparison Between Invisalign Clear Aligners and Traditional Braces

Traditional braces and Invisalign clear aligners are two commonly used orthodontic methods today. Both methods provide effective results in correcting misaligned teeth and bite issues, helping move teeth into the correct position on the dental arch.
In addition, both traditional braces and Invisalign aligners are safe and suitable for many different groups, including both adults and children. However, Invisalign and traditional braces also have certain differences.
Criteria Traditional Braces Clear Aligners (Invisalign)
Features Uses a system of archwires, brackets, and elastic bands fixed onto the teeth. Sử dụng máng trong suốt làm bằng vật liệu SmartTrack
Aesthetics Low aesthetics, brackets are visible when communicating. Invisible, making it difficult for others to notice you are wearing braces.
User Experience
May feel slightly uncomfortable when first wearing braces.
Brackets can come loose while chewing.
Gentle and comfortable, feels like you’re not wearing braces.
Easy to remove and reattach.
Effectiveness Fast tooth movement, capable of treating all cases including complex ones. Effective for mild to moderate teeth misalignment cases.
Follow-up Visits Follow-up Visits: 2 times/month Every 4–6 weeks
Cost Lower cost Higher cost

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your needs and dental condition, the dentist will guide you toward the most suitable orthodontic treatment.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Invisalign Braces

Advantages
Aesthetics: The clear aligners are nearly invisible, ensuring maximum aesthetics. Therefore, you can confidently communicate with others without worrying that people will notice you are wearing braces like with traditional brackets.
Preview of treatment results: With Invisalign, you can preview the expected results during and after completing the orthodontic treatment. This accurate simulation helps you quickly decide whether to proceed with braces or not. It also helps the dentist create a suitable treatment plan, estimate treatment time, and determine the number of aligners needed.
Shorter treatment time (4–6 months): In many cases, clear aligners can reduce treatment time compared to traditional braces. The aligners fit closely to the teeth, so issues like brackets breaking or wires coming loose rarely occur. This ensures teeth move accurately according to the planned schedule, shortening treatment time by about 4–6 months compared to traditional braces.
Easy to clean and remove: During treatment, you can easily remove and reattach the aligners for eating and maintaining proper oral hygiene without affecting treatment results.
Personalization: Each set of aligners is custom-designed for each individual to effectively correct dental issues such as overbite, underbite, gaps, or misaligned teeth from simple to complex cases.
Fewer follow-up visits: Each aligner is numbered according to the treatment stage. You can change aligners at home following your dentist’s instructions without needing to visit the clinic frequently. Typically, while traditional braces require check-ups every 2–4 weeks, clear aligners only require visits every 6–8 weeks.
  • Cost: Typically 2–4 times higher than traditional braces.
  • In some very specific cases, clear aligners (Invisalign) may not be the optimal treatment option recommended by the dentist.

Does Invisalign hurt?

Many patients visiting dental clinics often ask: “Does Invisalign hurt?” According to orthodontists, the mechanism of this orthodontic technique is based on the gentle force applied by the aligners, which gradually move the teeth into the desired position.
Therefore, during the first days of wearing the aligners, patients may feel a bit unfamiliar. Mild tightness, slight discomfort, and minor tooth sensitivity may occur. However, this is a normal sign during orthodontic treatment and indicates that the aligners are working effectively. After a few days, patients usually get used to the aligners and feel comfortable wearing them.
Invisalign aligners are designed to closely fit along the gum line, and the material used has been researched and improved over many years. This results in a safe material with optimal strength and flexibility, superior to many other types of aligners. As a result, it helps reduce friction and prevents irritation to the soft tissues inside the mouth.
Additionally, thanks to multi-point pressure and a larger contact surface with the teeth, the aligners help teeth move more gently. Any discomfort usually appears only during the first day of wearing a new aligner. When switching to a new aligner, patients may only feel slight tightness or a new sensation in the mouth.
Many people wearing clear aligners even prefer to keep them on while eating because it makes chewing feel easier and their bite feels stronger. However, you should avoid colored foods and drinks as they may stain the aligners.

Does Invisalign treatment take longer than traditional braces?

You may often hear that clear aligners like Invisalign are faster than traditional braces. However, cases that finish faster are usually because most people who choose Invisalign tend to have only mild dental issues.
According to a 2019 study by a group of Chinese researchers titled “Comparison of treatment effectiveness between clear aligners and fixed braces,” published in BMC Oral Health, the study concluded that:
         • Both clear aligners and fixed braces are effective in treating malocclusion.
         • Clear aligners have advantages in moving individual teeth and may help shorten treatment time.
In reality, tooth movement cannot be rushed. Teeth need time to gradually shift into their correct positions. If excessive force is applied to move teeth too quickly, it can cause pain and negatively affect oral health.
Therefore, Invisalign treatment usually takes about 1–2 years or even longer, similar to traditional braces depending on each individual case.

What is the process of Invisalign clear aligner treatment?

In terms of procedure, Invisalign clear aligner treatment usually includes the following 7 steps:
 Step 1: Clinical examination to evaluate the dental condition, X-ray imaging, full-arch scanning with the iTero Element 5D, and taking both intraoral and facial photos.
 Step 2: Discuss the treatment plan using ClinCheck software and preview the expected results through 3D simulation.
 Step 3: Sign the treatment agreement.
 Step 4: Tooth extraction (if included in the treatment plan) and treatment of any dental issues before wearing the aligners.
 Step 5: Attach attachments to the teeth and wear the first set of aligners.
 Step 6: Regular follow-up visits every 6–8 weeks.
 Step 7: Complete the orthodontic treatment and wear retainers.
Each pair of aligners is usually worn for about 1–2 weeks before switching to the next set. Throughout the treatment process, the dentist will monitor progress and make necessary adjustments depending on each individual case.
After completing Invisalign treatment, you may need to wear a retainer for a certain period as instructed by your dentist to ensure the best and most stable results.

How long does Invisalign treatment take?

The duration of Invisalign treatment depends on many factors such as:
• The dentist’s expertise
• The level of tooth misalignment
• The treatment plan designed by the dentist
• The patient’s age when starting orthodontic treatment
However, the average Invisalign treatment time is about 1–2 years. For mild cases, the treatment may take around 9 to 18 months (equivalent to about 20–35 aligners). In more complex cases, treatment may last from 18 to 32 months (about 35–45 aligners) or longer depending on the dental condition.
Does Invisalign require tooth extraction?
Similar to traditional braces, Invisalign treatment may also require tooth extraction (usually 2–4 teeth depending on the case). Tooth extraction may be necessary for several reasons:
• Creating space to allow teeth to move more easily
• Creating space to align crowded teeth
• Extracting protruding teeth to allow the teeth to be moved backward
• Removing teeth that have dental problems such as looseness or persistent pain
In cases of mild protrusion or mild crowding, dentists may choose to move teeth into the space of extracted wisdom teeth instead, helping patients avoid removing healthy premolars.
How much does Invisalign clear aligner treatment cost?
The Invisalign clear aligner method is currently widely applied at QUINN Dental. This treatment is highly rated for its effectiveness and ability to correct dental issues ranging from mild to complex cases.
At QUINN Dental, the cost of Invisalign treatment ranges from approximately 30,000,000 to 150,000,000 VND. The price depends on the number of aligner sets required. Therefore, the more severe the misalignment, the more aligner sets are needed and the higher the total cost.
Compared with other orthodontic methods, Invisalign tends to be more expensive due to several reasons:
Safety for the body  
Invisalign aligners are made from clear medical-grade plastic approved by the U.S. FDA, ensuring safety throughout the orthodontic treatment.
Personalized aligners manufactured in the USA  
Each Invisalign aligner is custom-designed according to the patient’s dental condition and manufactured in the United States, which increases the cost compared with traditional braces.
High compatibility with each patient  
The aligners are created based on the patient’s dental impressions, ensuring a precise fit and helping teeth move according to the planned treatment.
High aesthetic value  
The aligners fit closely to the tooth surface, maintaining high aesthetics during treatment. Because they are transparent, you can confidently communicate with others, as people will hardly notice that you are wearing aligners. Additionally, patients usually adapt to wearing aligners more quickly compared with traditional braces.
Why should you choose Invisalign treatment at QUINN Dental?
To achieve the best results with clear aligners, it is important to choose a reputable dental clinic. With nearly 10 years of experience, QUINN Dental is confident in being a reliable destination for patients experiencing bite misalignment or other orthodontic issues.
At QUINN Dental, we have a team of experienced dentists who are continuously trained and updated with the latest orthodontic knowledge to provide the most effective treatments. To date, the clinic has successfully treated thousands of orthodontic cases, ranging from simple to complex dental misalignments.
In addition to highly skilled dentists who constantly learn and innovate, QUINN Dental is also equipped with modern technology and advanced equipment. When undergoing orthodontic treatment here, all procedures—from examination and treatment planning to treatment—are carried out in one place, meaning patients do not need to visit other locations for related services such as X-rays or facial and intraoral examinations.
With ClinCheck software, patients can easily track the progress of their tooth movement throughout the treatment process. Meanwhile, the iTero Element 5D scanner provides highly accurate data, helping dentists monitor potential complications and save time during treatment.
Moreover, when visiting QUINN Dental, patients can enjoy a modern, 5-star standard clinic environment designed to provide maximum comfort.
Some of the reasons why QUINN International Aesthetic Dental Clinic is a trusted choice include:
          • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
          • Strict sterilization and infection control in every treatment step
          • Commitment to using genuine orthodontic materials imported from the United States
          • Free consultation, examination, and X-ray imaging
          • Invisalign treatment with 0% interest installment plans

Images of Customers Who Had Invisalign Treatment at QUINN Dental