Clear Aligners in Longmont, CO | Martin Family Orthodontics

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are custom-made plastic trays that fit over your teeth and gradually shift them into alignment. Unlike fixed braces, clear aligners are removable. They are nearly invisible when worn, and they have no brackets or wires to irritate cheeks or lips.

Treatment uses a series of aligners, each slightly different from the last. As you move through the sequence, your teeth track toward the planned end position. Treatment planning is done in advance using 3D digital impressions and orthodontic software, so the full series is mapped out before you wear the first tray.

Benefits of Clear Aligner Treatment

Aesthetic discretion. Most people will not notice you are wearing aligners. For working professionals, public-facing roles, and patients who simply prefer a low-profile option, this matters.

Removable for eating and hygiene. You take aligners out to eat, drink anything other than water, brush, and floss. There are no food restrictions, and your dental hygiene routine does not change.

Comfortable to wear. Smooth plastic with no brackets or wires reduces the irritation many patients experience with traditional braces.

Fewer office visits in many cases. Check-in appointments are typically shorter and less frequent than braces adjustments.

Visual preview of your result. Modern clear aligner planning lets you see what your smile will look like at the end of treatment before you begin.

Who Is a Candidate for Clear Aligners

Clear aligners work well for many cases, including:

• Mild to moderate crowding
• Spacing and gap closure
• Mild bite issues (overbite, underbite, crossbite)
• Adult patients seeking discreet treatment
• Relapse after prior orthodontic treatment
• Teens with most permanent teeth in place

Clear aligners are not the right choice for every case. Severe rotations, significant vertical tooth movements, and certain complex bite issues are often better handled by braces or by coordinated orthognathic surgical planning for jaw discrepancies.

Dr. Martin will give you a direct evaluation at your consultation. If aligners are a strong fit for your case, that will be the recommendation. If not, she will explain why and walk through the alternatives.

What to Expect From Clear Aligner Treatment

Consultation and planning. Your first visit includes a clinical exam, iTero digital impressions, and supporting imaging. Dr. Martin uses this data to determine whether aligners are appropriate and to design the treatment plan.

Receiving your first aligners. Once your aligners are fabricated, you come in to pick them up. We walk through wear schedule, hygiene, and what to expect.

Wearing aligners. Aligners are worn 20 to 22 hours per day. You switch to the next set every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the plan.

Attachments. Some cases require small tooth-colored attachments bonded to specific teeth. These help aligners grip and move teeth more precisely. Attachments are removed at the end of treatment.

Check-in appointments. Routine visits every 6 to 10 weeks confirm that treatment is on track.

Treatment length. Most cases complete in 6 to 18 months. Comprehensive cases may take longer.

Retention. Retainers protect your result. Teeth want to drift; retention keeps them in place.

Wear Time Matters

Clear aligners only work when you wear them. Aligners must be in place 20 to 22 hours per day to follow the planned movement schedule. The most common reason aligner treatment runs longer than planned is inconsistent wear. We will help you build a routine.

Clear Aligners vs. Braces

Many patients are candidates for either option. The right choice depends on your case, your aesthetic preferences, and your daily routine. Aligners are better if discretion is a priority and the case suits aligner therapy. Braces often outperform aligners on complex movements and remove the variable of compliance.