Clear Aligners Greenwich

Maybe your lower front teeth have slowly crowded over the past decade. Maybe you wore braces as a teenager, lost the retainer somewhere along the way and now notice one tooth turning. Or perhaps a gap has bothered you in photos for years. For many Greenwich adults and teenagers with mild to moderate concerns like these, clear aligners may offer a way to straighten teeth without brackets and wires.

St Leonards Green Dental provides Invisalign and ClearCorrect clear aligners for Greenwich patients from our clinic at 88 Christie Street, St Leonards. Before anything is ordered, our dentist examines your teeth, gums and bite and tells you plainly whether aligners are likely to suit you, or whether another approach would serve you better.

Your first appointment is about gathering information and answering questions, not committing to treatment. Our dentist will:

• Ask what bothers you about your teeth and what you hope to change
• Check your gums, existing fillings, crowns and any signs of decay
• Look at how your upper and lower teeth meet when you bite and chew
• Take X-rays, photographs and impressions or digital records where needed
• Explain whether Invisalign, ClearCorrect, braces or referral is the better fit

If aligners are suitable, your records are used to plan each stage of tooth movement and estimate how many trays you may need. You will then receive a written treatment plan and estimate to take home and consider. There is no pressure to decide on the day.

Both systems straighten teeth using a series of custom, removable trays, and both require you to follow a wear schedule closely. The differences lie in the materials, digital planning software, treatment protocols and, in some cases, cost.

Invisalign may be considered for mild to moderate crowding, spacing, relapse and certain bite concerns. ClearCorrect may also suit many of these cases, and for some patients it can be the more affordable choice. At our clinic, ClearCorrect patients are generally asked to wear each set for at least 22 hours a day, change to the next set roughly every two weeks and come in for a review every six to eight weeks.

Our recommendation is based on your teeth first and your budget second. Small tooth-coloured bumps called attachments may be bonded to some teeth to help the trays grip and guide movement. Aligners are discreet, but they are not completely invisible, and attachments can be more noticeable on front teeth.

Following an assessment, aligners may be considered for:

• Crowded or overlapping front teeth
• Spaces between teeth
• Teeth that are slightly twisted
• Movement after earlier orthodontic treatment
• Some deep bites, overbites and open bites

Aligners cannot move dental implants, and crowns or bridges may need to be considered when planning. If you clench or grind your teeth, please let us know. Our dentist will take this into account and discuss how to protect your teeth during and after treatment.

People often ask about aligners several months before a wedding, a big birthday or an overseas trip. Treatment can usually be planned around these events, but aligner treatment generally runs over many months, and the exact timeframe depends on how far your teeth need to move and how consistently the trays are worn.

If you have a date in mind, mention it at your consultation. Our dentist can tell you whether that timing is realistic and how to manage things like attachments in photos, travelling with spare trays or a review that falls while you are away. We cannot promise your teeth will reach a particular stage by a specific date.

Trays come out for every meal and for any drink other than plain water. Coffee, tea, wine and soft drinks can stain the plastic, and sugary or acidic drinks held against the teeth may increase the risk of decay. Brush, or at least rinse well, before putting them back in.

Carry your case whenever you leave home, whether you are heading to the office, a café in the village or a weekend at the sailing club. Trays wrapped in a napkin are easily thrown away by mistake. Rinse the trays in cool water, follow the cleaning routine our team demonstrates and keep them away from hot water, which can warp the plastic.

New trays often feel tight for a day or two, and your speech may sound slightly different at first. These effects usually settle as your mouth adjusts. If a tray cracks, no longer fits or goes missing, call us before moving to the next set, and keep your previous trays in case we need you to wear one again for a short time.

For contact sports such as soccer and netball, swap your aligners for a fitted sports mouthguard while you play, and pop the trays back in once the game is over.

The fee for aligner treatment depends on the complexity of your case, the system chosen, the number of trays and how long treatment is expected to take. A limited relapse correction will generally cost less than a full course, but we can only quote accurately after an examination.

Your written estimate should make clear whether review appointments, refinement trays, replacement trays and retainers are included. If you have private extras cover, ask your fund about the item numbers on your estimate, because orthodontic benefits, annual limits and waiting periods vary between policies.

Our clinic offers payment options through Zip Money, SuperCare and Humm. Each provider sets its own approval criteria, fees and terms, so please read these before applying.

You will find us inside the Medical Centre at Level 1, Tower 2, 88 Christie Street, St Leonards NSW 2065, a short walk from Royal North Shore Hospital.

For most Greenwich residents, the drive north to the Pacific Highway and across to Christie Street takes around five to ten minutes, depending on traffic and where you start. Street parking is available nearby.

If you prefer public transport, buses run from Greenwich to St Leonards, and our clinic is a short walk from St Leonards Station. Residents on the eastern side of the suburb may find Wollstonecraft Station convenient, as it is one stop from St Leonards on the T1 North Shore Line. Timetables change, so please check the Transport for NSW Trip Planner before you travel.

Aligner treatment involves review visits over many months, so a clinic close to home or work makes it easier to stay on schedule. We are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with Saturday appointments available by arrangement.

St Leonards Green Dental has cared for Lower North Shore patients since 2008. Our principal dentist, Dr Nazila Nosratieh, has led the practice since 2019. She holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery and a PhD in Oral Biology and has more than twenty years of experience in dentistry.

Our team of two dentists and dental assistants provides general, cosmetic and orthodontic care, and we now treat grandparents, parents and children from the same local families. Because check-ups, fillings, cleans and aligner treatment can all happen in one place, your general dental care and orthodontic progress can be monitored by the same team.

We aim to give you clear information about what aligners can and cannot do, what they cost and how long they may take, so you can make a decision that suits your teeth and your life.

Greenwich occupies a harbourside peninsula where the Lane Cove River meets Sydney Harbour, about 7 km north-west of the CBD in the Lane Cove Council area. Its streets range from Federation bungalows to sandstone heritage homes, with bushland pockets and foreshore parks along the water.

Long-time locals will know Manns Point and Shell Park for their harbour views, historic Greenwich House on the corner of George and St Lawrence Streets, and Bob Campbell Oval at Gore Creek, where Greenwich Sports Club teams play and the Greenwich Village Games are held every four years.

We also see patients from Artarmon, Willoughby, Northbridge, Cammeray, North Sydney, and Neutral Bay.

* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

An examination is the only reliable way to find out whether Invisalign, ClearCorrect, fixed braces or a referral to an orthodontist is the right path for your teeth.

Contact St Leonards Green Dental to arrange a clear aligner assessment for Greenwich patients. Call 02 9438 4352 or use our online form to request an appointment.