Clear
Aligners.
Orthodontics
Without Brackets.
Straight teeth without metal or ceramic brackets on your teeth. Clear aligners are custom-fabricated transparent trays that progressively move teeth through a planned sequence — nearly invisible during wear, removable for eating and oral hygiene, and comfortable against the soft tissues. Most effective for mild to moderate malocclusions in committed, compliant adults.
Sequential trays.
Gradual, precise movement.
Clear aligners work through a sequence of custom-fabricated transparent plastic trays — each one slightly different from the last. When worn, each tray applies gentle, controlled force to specific teeth, nudging them incrementally toward the planned position. After 1–2 weeks, the patient progresses to the next tray in the sequence. Over a planned number of trays — from as few as 10 for mild cases to over 40 for more complex presentations — the cumulative movement achieves the treatment objective.
The critical difference from fixed braces is that aligners work only when worn. Unlike brackets bonded to teeth that apply force 24 hours a day, aligners can be removed — and their effectiveness is entirely dependent on the patient choosing to wear them for 20–22 hours every day without exception. This is both the system's primary advantage (no brackets, no dietary restrictions, better oral hygiene) and its most significant clinical risk (poor compliance = poor outcome).
At Hassaan Dental Clinic, Dr. Haris assesses every patient honestly for aligner suitability — including a frank discussion of whether the case complexity and the patient's lifestyle make aligners genuinely appropriate. Not every patient who wants aligners is a good candidate. Fixed braces (ceramic or Damon) achieve better outcomes for complex presentations and patients who underestimate the compliance commitment.
Transparent plastic is virtually undetectable at conversational distance — the most aesthetic orthodontic option available for daily wear during treatment.
Remove the trays before eating — no avoided foods, no broken brackets. Eat normally, brush normally, then replace the aligner.
Fully removable appliance means normal brushing and flossing — no navigating around brackets and wires. Lower risk of enamel demineralisation during treatment.
No metal or ceramic brackets against the soft tissue of the lips and cheeks. Generally more comfortable during the adjustment period between trays.
Some aligner phases can be monitored remotely via photographs — reducing clinic visit frequency. Particularly suited to dental tourism and out-of-city patients.
What clear aligners
actually deliver — and where they don't.
Clear aligners are heavily marketed. Here is what the peer-reviewed evidence published in indexed journals actually shows — without the marketing. Including where they fall short of fixed braces.
For mild to moderate crowding (up to ~4–5mm) and spacing correction in compliant adult patients, clear aligners achieve outcomes comparable to fixed appliances. The tooth movement mechanics are well validated for straightforward cases. The key word is "compliant" — the evidence assumes proper wear time.
Aligners can achieve moderate rotation correction, but systematic reviews consistently show fixed braces are superior for round-shaped teeth (canines, premolars) and for root torque control. Attachments (small tooth-coloured bumps bonded to teeth) improve aligner rotation capability but do not fully replicate fixed bracket precision. Outcome predictability is lower than with fixed braces for these movements.
For severe crowding, significant overbite or open bite correction, skeletal discrepancies, and cases requiring extractions, fixed braces consistently outperform aligners in systematic reviews. Vertical control (intrusion and extrusion of specific teeth) is particularly difficult for aligners. Aligners are not the appropriate first choice for complex malocclusions regardless of aesthetic preference.
The difference between excellent and poor clear aligner outcomes is not the brand of aligner, not the clinician's skill, and not the case complexity — it is whether the patient wears the trays for 20–22 hours every single day. Published studies consistently show that patients who wear aligners for fewer than 20 hours daily experience significantly less tooth movement per tray, increased treatment time, and in some cases require retreatment or conversion to fixed braces. If you travel frequently, have social engagements where you would remove aligners, or know that you struggle with self-discipline routines — be honest with Dr. Haris at consultation. Ceramic or Damon braces may give you a better outcome at a similar aesthetic level without the compliance variable.
Who should choose clear aligners —
and who shouldn't.
Clear aligners are not the right choice for every patient. Dr. Haris will assess your case and give you an honest recommendation — even if it means recommending fixed braces over aligners.
Aligner worn all night — this is the easiest 8 hours to accumulate and must never be skipped.
Aligner worn during work, commuting, meetings — only removed if eating or drinking something other than water.
Worn during evening at home — only removed for dinner and 30 minutes post-meal for brushing before reinsertion.
All meal time combined should not exceed 2 hours daily — breakfast, lunch, and dinner together.
Tea, coffee, juice, and coloured drinks must be consumed without the aligner — they stain and warp the plastic.
Cold water is the one exception — sip water throughout the day with the aligner in place to stay hydrated.
From assessment to
your final tray.
Clear aligner treatment begins with a digital scan — no impressions, no plaster models. The entire treatment is planned in 3D before the first tray is fabricated.
Dr. Haris performs a full orthodontic assessment — clinical examination, OPG X-ray, intraoral photographs, and a frank discussion of whether your case complexity and lifestyle make aligners the appropriate choice. Many patients come requesting aligners but are better served by ceramic braces — Dr. Haris will tell you this honestly. If aligners are appropriate, a digital intraoral scan is taken — no physical impressions needed.
The digital scan data is used to produce a 3D simulation of your treatment — showing the planned tooth movement tray-by-tray from start to finish. You see the planned final position of every tooth before a single tray is fabricated. At this appointment, the number of trays, the treatment duration, any required attachments, and the full cost are confirmed. You approve the plan before fabrication begins.
Most aligner cases require attachments — small, tooth-coloured composite bumps bonded to specific teeth. Attachments give the aligner something to "grip" to produce more precise tooth movements, particularly rotations and torque. They are tooth-coloured and minimally visible. Attachments are removed at the end of treatment. Not all cases require attachments — their need is confirmed in the 3D treatment plan.
Your first set of trays is fitted and detailed wear instructions are provided — including exactly how to insert and remove trays without distorting them, cleaning protocol, what to do if a tray is lost or damaged, and the precise daily schedule. Each tray is worn for 1–2 weeks before advancing — based on tooth response and Dr. Haris's instructions. You are given several trays at a time rather than one-by-one to reduce clinic visits.
Because patients progress through multiple trays between visits, review appointments are less frequent than fixed brace adjustments. At each review, Dr. Haris checks that teeth are tracking correctly against the 3D plan — any deviation is identified early and addressed. Remote photograph monitoring can also be used between visits for straightforward cases, reducing clinic attendance further. If teeth are not tracking as planned, attachments may be added or the plan refined.
At the end of the planned tray series, teeth are assessed against the treatment objective. Refinements — a small additional series of trays — are common in aligner treatment, addressing any tooth positions that did not fully track as planned. Once the result is satisfactory, retainers (PKR 10,000 per arch) are provided — identical in principle to those after fixed braces. Nighttime retainer wear is lifelong. Aligners that were used during treatment are not retainers — dedicated retainers must be provided.
Clear aligners vs every other
option at Hassaan Dental.
An honest comparison — including where aligners are the best choice and where fixed braces serve patients better.
| Feature | ★ Clear Aligners | Ceramic | Damon | Metal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 👁️ AESTHETICS | ||||
| Visibility during treatment | ✓ Nearly invisible | ✓ Low (tooth-colour) | ✗ Visible (silver) | ✗ Visible (silver) |
| Appearance in photos / video | ✓ Best | ✓ Good | ✗ Metal visible | ✗ Metal visible |
| ⚙️ CLINICAL PERFORMANCE | ||||
| Mild–moderate crowding | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent |
| Complex crowding & rotations | Limited | ✓ Good | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent |
| Significant bite correction | ✗ Limited | ✓ Good | ✓ Good | ✓ Good |
| Patient compliance required | ✗ 20–22 hrs/day critical | ✓ None (fixed) | ✓ None (fixed) | ✓ None (fixed) |
| Suitable for children / teens | Compliance risk | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Best choice |
| 🏠 LIFESTYLE | ||||
| Dietary restrictions | ✓ None — remove to eat | Some hard foods avoided | Some hard foods avoided | Some hard foods avoided |
| Oral hygiene | ✓ Easiest — fully removable | Moderate | ✓ Easier (no tie traps) | Moderate |
| Bracket breakage risk | ✓ None | Slight (ceramic more brittle) | ✓ Low | ✓ Low |
| 💰 PRICING | ||||
| Starting price | Assessed at consult | PKR 75,000 | PKR 85,000 | PKR 60,000 |
| Adjustment visit frequency | ✓ Less frequent | Every 4–6 weeks | Every 6–10 weeks | Every 4–6 weeks |
Clear aligner pricing —
assessed after your scan.
Unlike fixed braces, clear aligner pricing depends on the number of trays required — which varies significantly by case complexity. Full cost is confirmed after the 3D digital scan and treatment simulation.
Important: Unit prices remain the same; final treatment cost may vary after clinical examination. Clear aligner pricing varies significantly based on case complexity and number of trays — it cannot be quoted without a scan and treatment simulation. The consultation (PKR 1,000) is the first step to receiving an accurate, case-specific quote.
Clear aligner
questions answered.
Honest answers — including the compliance question most aligner marketing avoids.
Invisible orthodontics —
when the case is right for it.
A PKR 1,000 consultation includes OPG X-ray, digital scan, and an honest assessment of whether clear aligners or fixed braces will serve your case better. No pressure toward the more expensive option. No promises that aligners will work for a case they won't.
