Many things on the market are called clear aligners, and Invisalign is one of them. So does Invisalign stand apart within this general heading? This page describes the brand's own components: the scan, the plan, the material and the role of the doctor. There is also a broader article comparing the general category with the brand under are clear aligners and Invisalign the same.
What is the difference in short?
Clear aligners are the general name for a type of treatment made by many manufacturers. Invisalign is the name of a specific system within that type. The system has four basic parts: the digital scan, the ClinCheck plan, the SmartTrack material and the provider doctor. These four parts work together.
Below we explain what each one does, in turn.
1. The scan: iTero
No impression tray is placed in your mouth. The iTero device scans your teeth with a wand and a three-dimensional model appears on the screen. This model is both the starting point of the plan and the record used for comparison at later check-ups. For people who do not like impressions taken with a tray, it brings clear comfort. You can see the technology on our technology page.
2. The plan: ClinCheck
ClinCheck is the treatment simulation produced from the scan. It shows, step by step, the journey of the teeth from their current position to the target position. Your doctor can edit this plan: change the movement of a tooth, add an attachment, add IPR. You also see the result and the steps on the screen. For details, see attachments and the ClinCheck plan.
3. The material: SmartTrack
SmartTrack is the name of the multilayer flexible material that Invisalign aligners are made from. The aim is for the aligner to seat well on the tooth and for force to be delivered in a balanced way. The aligner is flexible rather than hard and brittle. Still, like any material, it needs care; you can read the usage guide for how to clean your aligners.
4. The provider doctor
Invisalign is prescribed only by doctors who are trained and authorized to use the system. Aligners are not a product ordered online. The doctor who directs the treatment examines you, looks at your X-rays, approves the plan and carries out the check-ups. You can find how to tell whether a doctor is a provider on the Invisalign doctor in Ankara page.
A side-by-side look
| Topic | Clear aligners in general | The Invisalign system |
|---|---|---|
| Scan | Varies by manufacturer and clinic | Digital scan with iTero |
| Planning | Each system has its own software | ClinCheck, edited by the doctor |
| Aligner material | Varies by manufacturer | SmartTrack |
| Doctor | A doctor who uses the system | A doctor authorized as a provider |
| Retention at the end | A retainer is usually recommended | Vivera retainer option |
The table was prepared not to rank one system above another but to make the parts visible. Which system suits you is decided at the examination.
When treatment ends: Vivera
A retainer is used at the end of treatment so that the teeth stay in their new positions. In the Invisalign family this retainer is called Vivera. It looks similar to an aligner but its purpose is not to move the teeth, it is to hold them where they are. For general retainer information, see the retainer guide page.
How do the check-ups go?
When treatment starts, aligners are given in sets lasting a few weeks. At check-up appointments your doctor evaluates progress against the plan in ClinCheck. If the teeth are where they were planned to be, you move on to the new set. If a tooth is lagging behind the plan, the aligner step is re-evaluated, a new scan is taken if needed and the plan is updated. This is where the system is most useful: instead of a one-time impression, there is a record that is renewed throughout treatment.
If an aligner is lost or broken, call the clinic first. Your doctor will tell you the backup plan. The lost or broken aligner page can also help with what might happen while travelling.
What should you not compare?
When choosing clear aligners, two separate questions can get mixed up: which brand, and which doctor.
The transparency of the aligner, its thickness or the look of its box does not decide the matter. The same doctor may work with different systems; what matters most is that the system is explained to you clearly and that the plan is shown to you. For doctors working in Ankara too, the first question should be the same: who is directing the treatment and which records is it based on?
How can you tell the difference?
At your appointment, ask a doctor who examines your bite these questions:
- What device do you use for the scan?
- Will you show me the ClinCheck plan?
- If the plan changes, how will I find out?
- How often will the check-ups be?
- What will the retainer be when treatment ends?
The answers to these questions are a sign of a good consultation regardless of the system. Invisalign answers them in concrete terms: there is a scan, there is a plan, the material is defined and the check-ups are defined.
What changes for you?
In daily life you wear the aligners for many hours a day, take them out for meals, clean them and move on to the new set. In this respect the systems are similar. The differences appear in planning and follow-up. So when comparing, it is more sensible to look not at how the aligner looks but at the doctor directing the treatment, the plan and the check-up routine. To see the process from the start, take a look at the what is Invisalign page, and for the first step, the orthodontic examination page.
This information is general; the treatment that suits you is decided after an examination.