Invisalign in Miami · Clear Aligners Straighten your smile,
on your terms.

Who is a good candidate for Invisalign?

Clear aligners tend to work well for teens and adults with mild to moderate crowding, spacing and some bite problems. A lot of people come in because their teeth have drifted since they had braces as kids, or because one gap or overlap bothers them in every photo.

Aligners may be less predictable, or not the right first step, when:

• The bite problem comes mainly from the size or position of the jaws rather than the teeth
• Teeth need large rotations, or a lot of upward or downward movement
• There is untreated decay or gum disease, which has to be handled before any teeth are moved
• Wearing trays for most of the day isn't realistic for you right now

Dr. Rana is a general dentist. He plans and monitors aligner cases that sit within general practice himself, and refers complex orthodontic cases, such as significant jaw discrepancies, severe crowding or bites that may need surgery, to an orthodontist. You'll hear which group your case falls into at your first visit. For bite-specific questions, see aligners for overbites and crossbites.

From 3D scan to treatment plan

Everything starts with a digital 3D scan of your teeth, taken with a small handheld wand instead of trays of impression putty. At your free first visit, that scan, an exam and a smile preview give you an early look at what straighter teeth could look like, and a clear answer on whether aligners suit you.

If you decide to go ahead, Dr. Rana takes the records he needs, which may include X-rays, and builds a detailed movement plan: which teeth move, in what order, how far at each stage, and roughly how many aligners that takes. You go through it together before any aligners are ordered, and that is also when your exact price goes in writing.

Some things can't be predicted perfectly from a scan, such as how quickly your particular teeth respond. That's why the plan includes check-ins along the way, and why the projected timeline is an estimate rather than a fixed date.

Wear time: the part that's up to you

Aligners only move teeth while they're in your mouth. Most plans call for wearing them around 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat, to drink anything other than plain water, and to brush. Short gaps add up: an hour or two missed every day can slow a case noticeably.

Habits that make it easier:

• Carry the case everywhere, and put trays in it rather than in a napkin, where they tend to get thrown away
• Brush, or at least rinse well, before putting trays back in after a meal
• Move to each new set on the schedule you're given, not early
• If a tray cracks or goes missing, call or text us before skipping ahead or going back to an old one

More on staying on track in aligner wear and compliance, and on timelines in how long Invisalign takes.

Attachments and other small extras

Many aligner plans use attachments: small, tooth-colored bumps of composite bonded to certain teeth. They give the plastic something to grip, so the trays can turn or tip a tooth that a smooth surface would simply slide over. They're usually placed near the start of treatment and polished off at the end, and most people find them hard to spot from a normal distance.

Some plans also include gentle smoothing between a few teeth, often called interproximal reduction, to make a little room where teeth are crowded. It removes a very small amount of enamel. Bite corrections sometimes add small elastics that hook onto the trays. If your plan uses any of these, Dr. Rana will explain where and why before treatment begins.

Refinements: when teeth need a second round

Teeth don't always follow the plan exactly. When a few lag behind near the end, a new scan can be taken and a short series of extra aligners made to finish the movement. These are called refinements, and they're a normal part of many aligner cases rather than a sign that something went wrong.

Ask any office you're considering how refinements are handled and whether they're part of the quoted price. Your written quote at Prana says how they're handled before you start.

Retainers keep the result

Once teeth reach their new positions, the bone and gum fibers around them need time to settle, and teeth have a natural tendency to drift. A retainer holds them in place while that happens and for years afterward. Most people wear one full-time for a while and then at night, often indefinitely, on a schedule set for their case.

Retainers can be removable clear trays or a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth. Clean removable ones with cool water and a soft brush, because hot water can warp the plastic. If yours cracks or stops fitting, replacing it promptly is far easier than straightening teeth a second time. Read retainers after Invisalign for more.

Invisalign for teens

Teens can be good aligner candidates once most of their permanent teeth have come in. The appeal is easy to see: no brackets in school photos, fewer food rules, and trays that come out for meals, a band instrument or a big event. The hard part is wear time, since a tray left in a locker isn't moving anything.

Parents often ask how they'll know trays are being worn. A simple home routine helps (trays back in right after meals, the case always in the backpack), and regular check-ins let us see whether teeth are tracking. For younger children with jaw growth concerns, or bites that need guiding while they're still growing, an orthodontist is usually the right call, and we'll refer. More in Invisalign for teens, and see our family and kids dentistry page.

Invisalign vs braces

Neither option wins for everyone. For many adults with mild to moderate crowding, aligners and braces can reach similar results, and the choice comes down to lifestyle and how consistently you'll wear trays. For complex cases, braces with an orthodontist may be the stronger option, and we'll tell you so. See Invisalign vs braces for adults.

What affects the cost of Invisalign

There's no single price, because no two cases need the same movement. You'll see the exact figure in writing before treatment, and it mostly comes down to:

• How many teeth move and how far, which sets the number of aligners
• Whether one arch or both are treated
• Bite correction, which usually adds time and trays
• Treatment needed beforehand, such as a cleaning, fillings or gum care
• Records such as X-rays, and how refinements are handled
• Retainers once treatment ends

Some people finish with whitening or a little bonding on worn edges. Those are quoted separately, and only if you want them.

Insurance and financing for clear aligners

Some dental plans include orthodontic benefits, and some of those can apply to clear aligners. Where they exist, orthodontic benefits often come with a separate lifetime maximum (paid once, rather than renewed every year), and many plans limit them to children or teens under a certain age. Other plans exclude orthodontics altogether. Most major dental insurance is welcome, and we check your benefits for you.

Whatever insurance leaves over can be spread out with 0% financing through CareCredit, Cherry or LendingClub on approved credit. See our financing page.

Check-ins close to home or work

Aligner check-ins are usually quick, so location matters over months of treatment. The Edgewater office on Biscayne Blvd near NE 30th Street keeps hours Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm. People in Midtown, Wynwood and the Design District are usually minutes away, and Downtown and Brickell are an easy run up Biscayne, depending on traffic. Parking is in the building or on nearby streets.

About the dentist

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.

Questions, answered

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