Orthodontics & Clear Aligners
Invisalign in San Clemente
Straighten your teeth with clear, removable aligners rather than brackets and wires.
Invisalign moves your teeth a little at a time using a series of custom-made, nearly invisible aligners. They lift out for meals and for brushing, so straightening your smile fits around your day instead of interrupting it.
Dentistry for the whole household.
About Invisalign
Clear aligners, planned around your smile
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that straightens teeth without traditional braces. Each set of aligners is made to fit snugly over your own teeth and shifts them gradually toward their planned position. Because the aligners are clear, they are a discreet way to change how your teeth sit, and you receive a treatment plan worked out for your own mouth rather than a standard course.
What It Treats
What Invisalign can correct
Aligners work across a wide range of orthodontic concerns, which is part of why they have become such a common choice for adults and teenagers alike.
- Crowded teeth Teeth that overlap or sit twisted because there is not enough room along the arch.
- Gaps between teeth Spacing you would rather not see when you smile, or that traps food.
- Bite problems Aligners can also change the way your upper and lower teeth meet.
Aligners vs Braces
Invisalign compared with traditional braces
Braces rely on metal brackets and wires that stay fixed to your teeth for the whole of treatment. Invisalign aligners are made from a smooth plastic that will not irritate your gums or cheeks, and they come out whenever you need them to. You take them out to eat, so nothing is off the menu, and you brush and floss normally instead of working around fixed hardware. For anyone who would rather not advertise that they are having orthodontic treatment, that is usually the difference that decides it.
Why Aligners
Why patients choose clear aligners
Most of the reasons people give have nothing to do with the teeth themselves – they are about what wearing the aligners is actually like, day to day.
- Removable for meals Take them out to eat, so nothing is off the menu while you are in treatment.
- Brush and floss as normal Clean your teeth the way you already do, rather than working around fixed hardware.
- Comfortable against gums and cheeks A smooth plastic that will not irritate the soft tissue.
- Discreet in company The aligners are clear, so treatment is not the first thing people notice when you speak.
- Made for your own teeth Every set is custom-made to fit your smile rather than adjusted from a standard size.
The Process
How treatment works
Treatment runs in stages, and each stage is a new set of aligners.
- Consultation We look at your teeth and work out whether Invisalign suits what you want to change.
- Digital scanning Digital impressions of your teeth are taken and used to design your aligners.
- Your aligners are made A series of clear, removable aligners is produced to move your teeth gradually.
- Wear and replace Each set is worn for about one to two weeks, then swapped for the next in the series.
- Results As you work through the series your teeth settle into the position planned at the start.
Get Started
Starting Invisalign in San Clemente
Talega Dental Group has looked after families here since 2003, and we take new patients from Capistrano Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch, Mission Viejo and the rest of south Orange County. If you are weighing clear aligners against braces, a consultation is the place to start: bring your questions and we will talk through what aligners can and cannot do for your teeth.
The short answer
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that straightens teeth using a series of clear, removable, custom-made aligners instead of brackets and wires. Each set fits snugly over your teeth and shifts them gradually toward the position planned at the start, and is worn for about one to two weeks before you move to the next. It can correct crowded teeth, gaps and bite problems, and the aligners come out for meals and for brushing and flossing.
Common Questions
Invisalign FAQ
- How does Invisalign straighten teeth?
Invisalign straightens teeth by moving them a small amount at a time with a series of aligners. Each aligner is shaped slightly differently from the one before it, so wearing them in order shifts your teeth gradually toward the position planned at the start of treatment. The aligners are designed from digital impressions of your teeth.
- Will people be able to tell I am wearing aligners?
Most people will not notice you are wearing aligners. They are clear and fit closely over your teeth, so they are far less noticeable than metal brackets and wires. It usually only comes up if you mention it yourself.
- Can I take the aligners out?
Yes, you can take the aligners out. You remove them to eat and to brush and floss, then put them straight back in. That is the main practical difference from fixed braces, since nothing is off the menu and you clean your teeth the way you already do.
- How often do I change to a new set?
Most patients move to a new set of aligners after about one to two weeks. Each set is worn for that period, then swapped for the next in the series. We will give you the schedule that applies to your own treatment plan.
- What sorts of problems can Invisalign fix?
Invisalign can correct crowded teeth, gaps between teeth and bite problems, including overbite, underbite and crossbite. Crowding means teeth that overlap or sit twisted because there is not enough room along the arch. Gaps can be spacing you would rather not see or spacing that traps food, and bite problems affect the way your upper and lower teeth meet.
- How do I find out whether Invisalign is right for me?
The way to find out is to book a consultation. We look at your teeth, talk through what you want to change and tell you whether clear aligners are the right way to get there. Bring your questions about aligners and braces, and we will explain what aligners can and cannot do for your teeth.
Book a visit
Plan your visit
We accept new patients and offer walk-in emergency care.
Address
Phone
Office hours
Your dentist
Dr. Ben Meshkinfam, D.D.S.
University of the Pacific, D.D.S. · Post-doctorate at LAC+USC Medical Center
Insurance & financing
30 HMO and PPO plans accepted
Including Delta Dental, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Guardian, MetLife and Humana. Estimates in writing before treatment.
