So how do clear aligners work? In plain terms: we scan your teeth, a licensed orthodontist maps out every small move, and you wear a series of clear custom trays that shift your teeth into place a little at a time. Most of it happens from home, with quick check-ins from your phone. At Spring Hope Family Dentistry, the whole process usually takes about six to eight months, and you’ll know your exact all-in price ($4,799, everything included) before you start. Here’s the full clear aligner timeline, step by step.
Step 1: Your free consultation and 3D scan
Everything starts with a quick visit. We take a 3D scan of your teeth and a panoramic X-ray, and we look at your case together right there on the screen. It takes about twenty minutes. You’ll see exactly what needs to move, hear whether you’re a good candidate, and walk out knowing your price. The consultation, scan, and X-ray are all free, with no pressure to move forward. (Not sure you’d qualify? Our Am I a Candidate? page covers who these work best for.)
Step 2: A licensed orthodontist builds your plan
Your scan goes to a US-based licensed orthodontist who plans your case tooth by tooth, working alongside Dr. Abboud. This is one of the real advantages of the CandidPro system we use: a specialist maps out every stage of your movement, not just a piece of software. Dr. Abboud reviews it too, so you’ve got both an orthodontist and your own dentist on the same plan before a single tray is made.
Step 3: Your custom aligners are made
Once your plan is approved, your custom CandidPro aligners are manufactured to fit each stage of your treatment. You’ll wear them about twenty-two hours a day, taking them out only to eat, to drink anything other than water, and to brush. You switch to the next tray on schedule, and each one nudges your teeth a little closer to where they’re headed. We dispense about five trays at a time, so you’re never making a trip in just to pick up your next set.
Step 4: At-home monitoring keeps you on track
This is the part patients love. Every two weeks, you scan your own teeth with your phone using a little ScanBox we give you. The monitoring reviews your scan right away and gives you one of two answers:
- Green light: your teeth are tracking as planned, so you move on to the next tray.
- Red light: your teeth need a little more time, so you stay on your current tray another week and scan again.
That customized pacing is the whole point. We never move your teeth faster than they’re actually ready to go, which is gentler on your teeth and protects your final result. If anything looks off, it’s flagged and sent straight to Dr. Abboud. You can read more about the technology behind it on our Remote Monitoring & Technology page.
Step 5: About three to five in-office visits
Because we’re watching your progress through those phone scans, you don’t need to keep driving in. Across the whole treatment, most people come to the office only about three to five times. Compare that to traditional aligner or Invisalign treatment, where you’re often back in the chair every six to eight weeks. The rest of the time, we keep an eye on you remotely.
Step 6: Most people finish in about six to eight months
For the everyday case, treatment usually wraps up in about six to eight months. Some people finish sooner, and a more involved case can run a little longer. Your custom plan gives you a realistic timeline up front, and the at-home scans keep you honest about wear time, the single biggest thing that keeps treatment on schedule.
Step 7: Retainers protect your new smile
Straight teeth naturally want to drift back, so the last step is holding them in place. Your retainers are included in your price, and for most people we recommend a removable retainer over a permanent bonded bar. It’s easier to keep clean, and there’s no hidden wire quietly failing behind your teeth. We lay out the full trade-off on our Lingual Bar vs. Retainers page.
Dr. Abboud’s Take
“Here’s what I love about the way we do this. Every two weeks, you scan your teeth from your phone and our monitoring reviews it right away. Green means you’re on track and ready for the next tray. Red means your teeth need a little more time, so you stay on your current tray another week and scan again. That’s the entire point: we never move your teeth faster than they’re ready to go. It’s a plan that adapts to you, and if anything is flagged, it comes straight to me.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does clear aligner treatment take?
Most people finish in about six to eight months. Simpler cases can go faster, and more involved ones can take a bit longer. You’ll get a realistic timeline at your first visit.
How many hours a day do I wear them?
About twenty-two hours a day. You take them out to eat, to drink anything other than water, and to brush and floss, then put them right back in. Wear time is the biggest factor in staying on schedule.
How often do I have to come in?
About three to five times total across your whole treatment. Everything in between is handled through your phone scans.
How does the at-home scanning work?
Every two weeks, you pop your phone into the ScanBox and scan your teeth. The monitoring checks it right away: a green light means move to your next tray, a red light means stay put another week and scan again. If anything is flagged, Dr. Abboud is notified.
What happens if my teeth track slowly?
Nothing to worry about. You get a red light, stay on your current tray one more week, and re-scan. We would rather give your teeth the extra time than push them faster than they’re ready.
Ready to see if you’re a candidate?
Your consultation and 3D scan are free, and you’ll leave knowing your exact all-in price of $4,799, everything included. Call or text (252) 478-3422 or reserve online. You can also start with our full Clear Aligners in Spring Hope overview.
Spring Hope Family Dentistry straightens smiles for patients across Nash County, including Rocky Mount, Nashville, Wilson, Bailey, Middlesex, Elm City, Zebulon, and Bunn.
