What clear aligners are
Less visible than braces. Still orthodontics.
Clear aligners are a series of custom made, removable transparent trays that move your teeth gradually into position. Each set is worn for a defined period before you progress to the next. They are considerably less visible than fixed metal braces, and you take them out to eat and to brush.
For most working adults in Kozhikode, that combination is the entire appeal: correcting your teeth without spending eighteen months in visible braces in front of clients, students or colleagues.
What matters more than the trays, however, is who plans them. Aligner treatment is orthodontics — moving teeth through bone — and it needs the same diagnostic rigour as any other orthodontic case. At Adhithi Poly Clinic, aligner cases are planned and monitored by MDS qualified specialists in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. Clear aligners are suitable for many cases but not all; complex bite discrepancies and severe crowding may be better corrected with fixed appliances, and we will tell you if that is your situation rather than sell you the treatment you walked in asking for.
The cases they suit
What Clear Aligners Can Address
Mild to moderate crowding
Mild to moderate crowding of the teeth.
Spacing and gaps
Spacing and gaps between teeth.
Tilted or rotated teeth
Mildly rotated or tilted teeth.
Relapse after braces
Relapse after previous orthodontic treatment where a retainer was not worn.
Mild bite issues
Certain mild bite discrepancies, subject to assessment.
Where fixed braces may be the better choice
An honest limit is more useful than a tray for every smile.
Severe crowding
Severe crowding or significant rotations.
A larger bite problem
Substantial bite discrepancies requiring skeletal correction.
Vertical movement
Cases requiring extensive vertical tooth movement.
Wear time you will not keep
Patients who realistically will not wear the trays for the required 20 to 22 hours a day.
The point clinics rarely mention
The last point is the one clinics rarely mention. Aligners only work while they are in your mouth. A patient who takes them out through the working day will not get the planned result, and the treatment will take longer than quoted. If you know that pattern describes you, fixed braces may serve you better — and that is a legitimate recommendation, not a downgrade.
The process
How Clear Aligner Treatment Works
You see the plan before you commit
Orthodontic assessment
Clinical examination, photographs, X-rays and records to determine whether aligners are appropriate for your case.
Digital treatment planning
Your orthodontist plans the sequence of tooth movement and you are shown the projected progression before you commit.
Aligner fabrication
Your custom trays are manufactured to that plan.
Wear and progression
You wear each set as instructed, typically 20 to 22 hours per day, moving to the next set on schedule.
Monitoring reviews
Periodic appointments to confirm your teeth are tracking to plan and to adjust if they are not.
Retention
Once treatment is complete, retainers hold the result. Teeth relapse without retention. This is not an optional add on; it is the part that protects everything you just paid for.
An honest comparison
Clear aligners and fixed braces
They solve different problems. This is the comparison most people are actually looking for.
| Clear aligners | Fixed braces | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Barely visible in normal conversation. | Visible. |
| Removable | Yes, for eating and cleaning. | No. |
| Diet | No restrictions. Trays are removed to eat. | Hard and sticky foods restricted. |
| Cleaning | Brush and floss normally. | Requires more effort and technique. |
| Depends on discipline | Heavily. Results depend on wear time. | Less so. The appliance is always working. |
| Case complexity | Mild to moderate cases. | Handles complex and severe cases. |
| Clinic visits | Generally fewer, at monitoring intervals. | Regular adjustment appointments. |
Cost, explained
What Affects the Cost of Clear Aligners
There is no single figure, because the plan is not known until your teeth have been examined.
Complexity
The complexity of your case and the extent of movement required.
Number of aligner sets
The number of aligner sets in your plan, which follows from the above.
How long it takes
The total duration of treatment.
Preparation first
Whether any preparatory treatment is needed first.
Retainers
Retainers following treatment.
The complete cost, after the records
Your orthodontist will give you the complete cost of your plan at assessment, before treatment starts. Be cautious of any aligner offer quoted before your teeth have been examined and imaged — a price given without a diagnosis is a price for an unknown treatment.
FAQ
What people compare before they start
Time, comfort, whether anyone will notice, eating, suitability, retainers, and who actually plans the case.
Want an orthodontist to look first?
Treatment duration depends on the complexity of your case and, critically, on how consistently you wear the trays. Aligners are generally worn 20 to 22 hours a day, and inconsistent wear extends treatment beyond the planned timeline. Your orthodontist will give you a case specific duration after assessment.
Most patients report mild pressure or tightness for the first day or two of each new set, which is the sensation of the teeth beginning to move. This typically settles quickly and is usually described as manageable rather than painful.
Clear aligners are transparent and are generally not noticeable in ordinary conversation, which is the main reason working adults choose them over fixed braces. They are not entirely invisible on close inspection.
No. Aligners are removed for eating and drinking anything other than water, then cleaned and replaced. This is why there are no dietary restrictions with aligners, unlike fixed braces.
No. Clear aligners suit mild to moderate crowding, spacing and certain bite issues. Severe crowding, significant skeletal bite discrepancies and cases needing extensive vertical movement are generally better treated with fixed appliances. Suitability is determined by orthodontic assessment, including clinical examination and imaging.
Yes. Teeth naturally tend to drift back towards their previous position after any orthodontic treatment. Retainers hold the corrected position, and retention is a permanent part of the outcome, not an optional extra.
Aligner cases are planned and monitored by MDS qualified specialists in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, all registered with the Kerala State Dental Council. Dr. Athira Sreeraj, Chief Dental Surgeon, additionally holds a one year Diploma in Straight Wire Orthodontics and advanced training in clear aligner therapy.
Adhithi Poly Clinic, Meenchanda
Call9747773866
See the plan first. Then decide.
An orthodontist will tell you whether clear aligners suit your case, what fixed braces would do differently, and the complete cost — after examination and imaging, before treatment starts.