Clear Aligners on Maui: Invisalign and Spark

Most clear-aligner treatments take about 18 to 24 months, though simpler cases finish sooner. Dr. Alex gives you a personalized estimate at your consultation.

Your aligners are custom-ordered from a lab. We typically schedule about 8 weeks for them to arrive, though in many cases they come in earlier and we get you started sooner.

22+ hours a day, taking them out only to eat and to brush. Aligners only move your teeth while they are in, so consistent wear is the single most important thing you control.

Each new set brings a day or two of mild pressure as your teeth begin to move. That is normal, temporary, and a sign it is working.

Both are clear-aligner systems that do the same job. Spark is engineered to be among the clearest and most stain-resistant. Dr. Alex chooses the system that fits your case best.

Possibly. When your bite needs correcting, small elastic rubber bands are used, and they can be part of clear-aligner treatment just as they are with braces. If your bite needs them, Dr. Alex shows you exactly how to wear them.

IPR (interproximal reduction) is a gentle, precise smoothing of a very small amount of enamel between certain teeth. It creates a little space and evens out small differences in tooth size or shape, so your aligners can deliver a precise, well-fitting result. It is common and comfortable.

Attachments are small, tooth-colored bumps we bond to a few teeth during clear-aligner treatment. They are barely noticeable and give the aligners something to gently grip, so they can make precise movements that would otherwise be hard to achieve. They are not permanent and are removed when your treatment is complete.

Only if they are organized and reliable, since aligners only work with 22+ hours of daily wear. A good gut check is how they manage the rest of their life. If staying on top of things is hard, braces are the lower-effort choice.

We do not use aligners for early treatment in young children, because the fit changes as baby teeth come and go, which slows progress. Aligners work best once most permanent teeth are in.

If aligners are not being worn enough to make progress, we can switch to braces, which take the daily effort out of the equation. Because new braces require lab fabrication, there is a $1,000 fee to cover that cost. We would rather switch and get a great result than let treatment stall.

Three sets, included in your cost. You wear retainers full-time for about 8 weeks, then nightly for life. The most common reason people need treatment again is that they lose a retainer and stop wearing it, so the three sets mean you always have a backup.

Many plans with an orthodontic benefit apply. We verify your benefits before you start so you know exactly what is covered.

Take them out to eat and to drink anything other than water. Brush, or at least rinse with water, before putting them back in.

No. One of the biggest perks of clear aligners is that you take them out to eat, so all your usual foods are fine. There is no avoiding hard, sticky, or chewy foods the way there is with braces. Just remove your aligners before eating, and brush or rinse before putting them back in.