If you have thought about straightening your teeth but the idea of metal braces made you hesitate, clear aligners may be the answer you were waiting for. At Kwon & Jabbour Dental in Walnut Creek, Dr. Julie Kwon and Dr. Hani Jabbour use Invisalign-style clear aligner therapy to straighten smiles discreetly, comfortably, and on a schedule that fits adult life.
Just as important: we will tell you honestly whether aligners are right for you. Not every smile is a clear aligner case, and you deserve a straight answer before you invest in treatment.
Clear aligners are thin, transparent trays made of smooth medical-grade plastic, custom-made from a digital scan of your mouth. Each set of trays is shaped slightly differently from the last. As you wear them, they apply gentle, steady pressure that shifts your teeth a small amount at a time.
Every one to two weeks, you switch to the next set of trays, and your teeth keep moving step by step along a path we plan digitally before you ever start. The whole system works quietly in the background of your life. Most people around you will never notice you are wearing them.
Both aligners and braces move teeth well. The right choice depends on your case and your lifestyle, so here is the honest picture.
Where aligners shine:
Where braces have the edge:
The honest bottom line: for mild to moderate alignment issues, aligners can deliver excellent results with far less disruption. For complex cases, braces or specialist orthodontic care may serve you better, and we will tell you which camp you fall into.
Clear aligners handle many of the most common concerns we see in Walnut Creek adults and teens:
Some situations call for more than aligners can offer: severe bite misalignment, significant jaw discrepancies, or teeth that need large rotations. If that is your case, we will say so plainly and refer you to a trusted orthodontist rather than sell you a treatment that will disappoint you. Wondering if your smile qualifies? Our blog covers whether clear aligners can improve your smile, and a consultation gives you a definitive answer.
1. Digital scan and exam. We scan your teeth (no goopy impressions) and check that your gums and teeth are healthy enough to start.
2. Your digital plan and preview. Software maps each movement, and you can see a preview of your projected result before committing.
3. Wear your trays 20 to 22 hours a day. You remove them only to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush. This wear time is the single biggest factor in your success.
4. Quick progress checks. You visit us periodically so we can confirm your teeth are tracking with the plan.
5. Refinements if needed. Teeth sometimes need a little extra fine-tuning, so an additional short series of trays at the end is common and normal.
6. Retainers. Once treatment ends, retainers protect your investment and keep your new smile in place.
Day to day, aligners are easy to live with. You take them out for meals, so there are no food restrictions at all: popcorn, apples, and steak are all still on the menu. After eating, brush (or at least rinse) before the trays go back in.
Cleaning is simple: brush the trays gently with a soft toothbrush and rinse them when you brush your teeth. Play sports? Trays come out for contact sports and a mouthguard goes in. Most people notice a slight lisp for the first day or two, and mild pressure when starting each new set of trays. Both fade quickly.
Adults are now the fastest-growing group straightening their teeth, and aligners are a big reason why. There is no age limit. As long as your teeth and gums are healthy, your teeth can still move, whether you are 25 or 65.
For teens, aligners can be a great fit when the case is appropriate and the teen is responsible about wear time. We will give you our honest read on both the bite and the habits.
Many patients finish aligner treatment and decide to complete the transformation. Straight teeth are easier to whiten evenly, so professional teeth whitening right after treatment is a popular finishing step. If you are considering other improvements, like reshaping or veneers, our cosmetic dentistry options build beautifully on a newly aligned smile.
The cost of clear aligner treatment varies with the complexity of your case and how long treatment takes: a minor six-month correction is very different from a two-year plan. After your consultation, you will get a clear, written picture of your exact cost before anything starts. No surprises.
Many dental plans include orthodontic benefits that apply to aligners, and our team will help you maximize your insurance benefits. We also offer 0% financing through CareCredit, which lets you break treatment into predictable monthly payments. You can review our insurance and payment policies anytime.
Aligners are far gentler than most people expect. You will feel pressure for a day or two each time you start a new set of trays. That pressure is a good sign, because it means your teeth are moving. It typically fades quickly, and most patients manage it easily. There are no wires or brackets to poke or scrape your cheeks.
Curious what clear aligners could do for your smile? Come see your projected result and get an honest recommendation. Call Kwon & Jabbour Dental at (925) 930-8465 to schedule your consultation, Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.
Serving Walnut Creek and nearby communities including Concord, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Alamo, and San Ramon.
Kwon & Jabbour Dental, 108 La Casa Via, Suite 102, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
