If you’re wondering whether you’re a candidate for clear aligners, here’s the short answer: most people are. In the doctor-directed model, with IPR, attachments, and elastics when needed, we treat mild through many complex cases, and that covers the large majority of the crooked, crowded, and gapped smiles we see at Spring Hope Family Dentistry. The complete, honest answer takes about twenty minutes and a quick 3D scan, and we give it to you free before you commit to anything.
Who makes a great candidate
Clear aligners handle more than people expect. You’re very likely a good candidate if you have:
- Crowding: teeth that overlap, twist, or sit too close together.
- Spacing or gaps: including the front-tooth gap so many people want closed.
- Mild rotations: a tooth or two turned a little out of line.
- Relapse after childhood braces: teeth that were straight as a teenager and drifted over the years. If you never wore your retainer, you’re in good company.
- The “social six”: the front teeth that show when you smile, often the simplest cases of all to treat.
- Bites that benefit from arch expansion: gently widening a narrow arch to make room instead of pulling teeth.
This isn’t only for adults. We treat plenty of teens too, and for one who keeps the trays in, aligners fit a busy school-and-sports life better than metal brackets. Whether you’re 16 or 60, most everyday cases are a comfortable, nearly invisible fix. Our Clear Aligners vs Braces page compares the two.
When we’d steer you somewhere else
We’d rather lose the case than talk you into the wrong treatment, so here’s the straight version. With IPR, attachments, and elastics we treat many complex cases, but the most severe ones are better with an orthodontist. That includes:
- The most severe crowding, where there simply isn’t room to line teeth up without more horsepower.
- Significant skeletal or jaw problems, like a severe overbite, underbite, or a jaw discrepancy that needs true orthodontic correction.
- Teeth that need the most severe rotation to come into place.
For cases like these, we’ll recommend traditional braces or an orthodontic specialist we trust. Sometimes the answer is a mix, where a specialist handles the hard part and we finish and maintain the smile here at home. Either way, you get a real recommendation, not a sales pitch.
The only way to know for sure
You don’t have to guess, and neither do we. Your first visit is a free consultation and 3D scan with a panoramic X-ray, and together they show exactly where you stand in about twenty minutes. From there, a US-based licensed orthodontist reviews your plan before treatment begins, so a specialist has eyes on your case, not just software.
This isn’t theory for us. Dr. Abboud has straightened his own teeth with clear aligners, and our front-desk teammate Britt is in CandidPro treatment right now, so the whole team knows the process from the patient’s chair.
If the scan says you’re a candidate and you move forward, your price is $4,799 all-in, everything included, with nothing added later. See the full breakdown on our Clear Aligner Cost page, and our How Clear Aligners Work page shows what the months ahead look like. When you’re ready, start on our clear aligners page.
Dr. Abboud’s Take
“I don’t want you guessing whether this will work, and I don’t guess either. Your 3D scan and panoramic X-ray show us exactly where you stand in about twenty minutes, and a licensed orthodontist reviews your plan before we begin. Most people are candidates. If your case would do better with braces, I’ll tell you honestly and refer you to a specialist I trust, because the right result matters more to me than simply getting you into aligners.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes someone a good candidate for clear aligners?
Crowding, spacing or gaps, rotations, and relapse after childhood braces are the sweet spot, and that describes most people who want a straighter smile. With IPR, attachments, and elastics, that runs from mild through many complex cases. A quick 3D scan confirms it.
Can teens get clear aligners?
Yes. We treat teens as well as adults. For a teen who wears the trays consistently, clear aligners straighten teeth just as well as braces for most everyday cases, without the brackets and wires.
What if my teeth are really crooked?
Many crooked and crowded cases are still very treatable with IPR, attachments, and elastics. Only the most severe cases, like a significant skeletal or jaw issue, are better with braces or an orthodontist, and we’ll tell you honestly and point you there.
Does it hurt, and how does the scan work?
The scan is easy and painless. We move a small wand around your teeth to build a 3D model, add a panoramic X-ray, and you’re done in about twenty minutes. New trays feel like light pressure for a day or two.
How do I find out for sure if I’m a candidate?
Come in for the free consultation and scan. In about twenty minutes you’ll know whether you’re a candidate, and if you are, you’ll walk out with your exact all-in price.
Ready to see if you’re a candidate?
Your consultation and 3D scan are free, and you’ll walk out knowing exactly where you stand and your exact all-in price. Call or text (252) 478-3422 or reserve online. We take a limited number of New Smile Voucher spots each round.
Spring Hope Family Dentistry welcomes clear aligner patients from across Nash County, including Rocky Mount, Nashville, Wilson, Bailey, Middlesex, Elm City, Zebulon, and Bunn.
