With clear aligner therapy from Hickory Ridge Dental, you can comfortably and discreetly straighten your teeth.

Clear Aligners

A man holding a clear aligner in Columbia, Md

Clear aligner therapy is an orthodontic treatment system that gives you beautiful, straight teeth without traditional metal braces.

Instead of metal braces, we use clear plastic aligners to move your teeth into the correct alignment gradually. Clear aligners can correct many of the same alignment problems as traditional braces, from crooked teeth to dental bite issues.

You should wear your aligners at night and throughout the day, removing them only for meals and brushing and flossing. They are virtually invisible, and most people will never know that you are wearing them.

Clear aligners are available for both teenagers and adults. Average treatment times are 12 to 18 months, but everyone starts with different needs, so your treatment time may be longer or shorter. Our dentist will work with you to create your customized plan and keep you informed of your progress.

Why Choose Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners have numerous advantages over traditional braces:

Traditional braces require appointments to tighten the wires and check the condition of the braces. With clear aligners, you just switch to the next set of aligners in the order of treatment laid out by your dentist.
Braces can leave permanent marks on your teeth, and even with good oral hygiene, plaque can develop around brackets and damage tooth enamel.
Unlike traditional braces, clear aligners allow you to eat any foods you want without restrictions.
The wires of traditional braces can poke at your mouth and cause pain and even injury. A broken wire often means an additional visit to your dentist or orthodontist.

Our Team

Meet More of Our Team

Dr. Alec Dancy

Dr. Alec Dancy brings a thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to dentistry at Hickory Ridge Dental. He believes that great dental care goes beyond treating teeth—it’s about building lasting connections with patients and helping them feel genuinely cared for each time they visit.

Dr. Dancy earned his undergraduate degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 2011 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Dentistry in 2016. He then completed a one-year General Practice Residency at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, gaining advanced experience in comprehensive ...

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Who Is a Candidate for Clear Aligners?

A woman holding a mould of teeth with clear aligners for illustration in Columbia, Md

Are you concerned about crooked teeth? Do you have a prominent overbite or underbite?

Clear aligners can treat these common problems and many others, including:

Protruding teeth
Wide gaps
Uneven spacing
Crowding
Overbite
Crossbite

Caring for Clear Aligners

It is easy to practice good oral hygiene habits during clear aligner therapy. Remove the aligners and brush and floss your teeth as usual. Brush your aligners and rinse with warm water or use the clear aligner cleaning kit to keep your aligners in good shape and free from bacteria.

Never use hot water to rinse or clean your aligners, as it can warp the plastic. You should also call our office if you crack or damage your aligner in any other way. A cracked aligner will not correctly move your teeth and impede your progress.

You should always brush your teeth following a meal and before placing your aligners back in your mouth. If you don't brush, bacteria become trapped against your teeth, and your aligners can become stained or damaged.

Please contact our office to find out more information. We are happy to schedule a consultation appointment to find out whether clear aligners are a good option for you.

Clear Aligners Technology

iTero Scanner

With iTero scanners, we no longer need to take goopy impressions of your teeth in order to create customized appliances or aligners. We can perform a quick scan and then send your scans directly to the dental laboratory. Advanced iTero scanners also allow dentists to identify dental issues, track the progress of treatments, and more. This fantastic new technology makes your dental experiences faster, more comfortable, and more convenient.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will clear aligners work for me?

While metal braces have come a long way in comfort and appearance, adults and older teens have more aesthetic options that better suit their lifestyles. Clear aligners can fix many cosmetic dental problems and are virtually undetectable. Since the trays are removable, you can clean your teeth thoroughly and eat the foods you enjoy.

Your orthodontist specialist can tell you if you’d benefit from clear aligners. In general, you’re a good candidate for clear aligners if:

Your oral issues are not severe. For example, an excessive open bite or underbite requires shifting the jaw using a more intensive treatment.
Your jaw has stopped growing, and you have all your permanent teeth.
You have the discipline to wear clear aligner trays for about 22 hours a day, removing them only to eat and clean teeth.

If you do have a severe misalignment issue, your dentist may be able to develop a treatment plan for you that includes both braces and clear aligners.

That doesn’t mean that less severe problems aren’t important enough to fix, however. Even slightly misaligned or overcrowded teeth can cause more serious problems if not treated. If you have any of these oral health issues, clear aligners might be perfect for you:

Mildly misaligned teeth
Minor bite problems
Protruding teeth
Gaps in teeth
Overcrowding
Malocclusion
Overbite