Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are a series of thin, see-through trays custom made to fit your teeth. Each tray is shaped slightly differently from the one before it, so wearing them in order moves your teeth a little at a time until they reach the planned position. You take them out to eat, brush, and floss, then put them back in — most of the work happens quietly while you go about your day.

We offer both Invisalign and other clear aligner treatment as part of the orthodontic care at our practice, alongside traditional metal braces. Our orthodontic care is led by Dr. Ila Sayed, a board-certified orthodontist on our staff, and she treats both children and adults. Because we are a multi-doctor family practice treating patients of all ages, we can look at the whole picture — your gums, your bite, any fillings or crowns you may need — and sequence treatment in a way that makes sense instead of handling orthodontics in isolation.

Good candidates are generally people who want to correct crowding, spacing, or alignment issues and who are willing to wear their trays consistently. Aligners only work while they're in your mouth, so the honest conversation we have with every patient is about habit: if you tend to take things out and forget them, braces may actually be the better fit. We'd rather tell you that at the consultation than halfway through treatment.

Adults make up a large share of the aligner patients we see — people in Woodhaven, Trenton, Riverview, and Flat Rock who want a straighter smile without announcing it to everyone at work. Teenagers can be excellent candidates too, especially those who are responsible about retainers and mouth guards. Some bite corrections and more complex tooth movements respond better to braces, and some situations call for treatment to begin only after cavities, gum disease, or an extraction is addressed first. We also accept orthodontic transfer patients, so if you started aligners elsewhere and moved into the Downriver area, bring your records and we'll pick up the conversation from there. No referral is needed to be seen.

Here's what we ask patients to keep in mind before starting:

• Aligners need to be worn consistently throughout the day and removed for meals and drinks other than water
• Teeth and trays both need regular cleaning, since food and plaque trapped under a tray sit against enamel
• Trays are changed on a schedule your orthodontist sets, with check-in visits along the way
• Some cases are better served by metal braces, and we'll say so if that's what we see
• A retainer is part of the plan, not an optional add-on

Paying for Aligner Treatment

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and will run a complimentary benefits check so you know what your plan covers before you commit. We also see self-pay patients, and we accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

For patients without insurance, our in-house membership plan is $199 a year for adults and $99 for anyone 17 and under, with no annual maximum, no deductible, no waiting period, and no pre-authorizations. It covers exams, X-rays, two cleanings, and two fluoride treatments at 100%, plus 20% to 50% off other treatment. CareCredit financing is available as well for spreading payments over time.

Your consultation is complimentary, so there's no cost to find out whether aligners fit your smile, your schedule, and your budget. Call our office at 22500 Allen Rd. in Woodhaven to schedule — se habla español, and we'd be glad to meet you.