How Clear Aligners Actually Work
The plastic is only the delivery mechanism. The real product is the plan.
Clear aligners move teeth through a series of custom-fabricated trays, each applying gentle, calibrated forces to specific teeth.
The digital plan
Before any aligner is worn, the clinician designs the final position digitally, then works backwards to determine the number of stages required. Small ceramic "attachments" on selected teeth allow more complex movements.
Compliance is the treatment
Aligners must be worn twenty to twenty-two hours per day. Missed wear is the single largest predictor of extended treatment and case refinement.
When retention begins
Teeth remember their prior positions for years. Long-term retention — usually a bonded wire and a nighttime retainer — is not optional.
General education
Presented with the historical professional background of Dr. Marianna Zadov, DDS. General information only, not individualized dental advice; no clinical care is offered.
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