Invisalign® for Adults in Boston

Many adults choose aligners because they’re clear, removable and fit around work and social life. The reasons people come to us vary.

• Crowded or overlapping teeth that are harder to clean or that you’ve never liked.
• Gaps and spacing between teeth.
• Teeth that moved after childhood braces. Align lists “relapse and minor movement” among the uses for its shorter packages.
• Preparing for crowns or veneers. Align lists “pre-restorative” alignment as a use. Moving teeth first can help your dentist plan crowns, veneers or bonding more conservatively.
• Bite concerns. Many bite problems can be treated with aligners, but the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says suitability is case-dependent.

Many adults with healthy teeth and gums are good candidates. Your dentist will confirm it after an exam and 3D scan.

At your consultation we look at your bite, your gums, any existing dental work, and your goals. If aligners aren’t the right fit for your teeth, your dentist will explain why and talk through other options. Compare the options on our Invisalign vs. braces page.

Dental Arts of Boston is a general dental practice; Invisalign care is led by our general dentist Dr. Michelle Stevens, together with Dr. George Stevens.

Healthy gums and bone support your teeth while they move, so we check them before treatment starts. The AAO says any dental work should be completed before scanning, and recommends a cleaning and checkup first.

If you have a history of gum disease, treatment is still often possible. Research on orthodontic care for people with gum disease says treatment should be planned individually, taking bone levels into account (Feu, 2020). We can treat gum problems first in the same office. Learn more about gum disease treatment.

Often, yes. Dental implants are fixed in the bone and don’t move like natural teeth, and teeth joined by a bridge move as one unit. Your dentist plans your aligners around them and explains how they affect your treatment.

Aligners can also be a first step before new restorations. Straightening teeth first may give your dentist more room to place crowns or veneers.

Treatment follows a clear set of steps, with your dentist checking progress along the way.

1. Exam and cleaning. We check your teeth and gums and finish any needed dental work.
2. 3D iTero® scan. A digital scan replaces traditional impressions.
3. ClinCheck® plan. You review a preview of the planned tooth movements before you start.
4. Aligners and attachments. Small tooth-colored shapes called attachments may be added to some teeth to help the aligners move them.
5. Check-ins. We see you about every six to eight weeks to check progress and give you new aligners.
6. Retainers. A retainer helps keep your new smile in place.

Your dentist gives you a personal estimate of treatment time after your 3D scan and ClinCheck plan.

Aligners fit around most routines, but they only work when you wear them. Align says to wear them “20–22 hours a day,” taking them out only to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush.

• Meetings and meals. Take aligners out to eat, then brush or rinse before putting them back in.
• Coffee and tea. The AAO says to drink only tap water with aligners in. Take them out for coffee, then clean your teeth before putting them back.
• Switching sets. You move to a new set weekly or every two weeks, as your dentist directs.
• Travel. Pack your aligner case and a travel toothbrush.

For more day-to-day tips, see living with Invisalign.

Yes. Once your teeth are straight, many adults choose cosmetic finishing in the same office.

• Teeth whitening brightens natural teeth after aligner treatment.
• Dental bonding can reshape chipped or uneven edges.
• Porcelain veneers can change the shape and color of front teeth.

Wear a retainer as your dentist directs. Align says, “Your teeth will shift without a retainer.”

Insurance, HSA/FSA and financing can help; see Invisalign cost and payment options.

Preview your planned tooth movement before you commit. Schedule Online or call 857-376-6559 to book a consultation at Dental Arts of Boston.

See also: Invisalign before your wedding or big event · Invisalign for teens

Sources: Align FY2025 10-K (package uses) · Align: wear time and change interval · Align: Vivera retainers · AAO aligner FAQ · AAO aligner FAQ, page 2 · AAO: braces vs. aligners · Feu 2020, orthodontics in periodontal patients