If you’re considering clear aligners, choosing where to have your treatment is an important decision. Cost and convenience matter, but there are a few other things worth looking at before you get started.
From who designs your treatment plan to how your progress is monitored, here are some useful questions to ask when comparing clear aligner providers in Melbourne.
1. Who Will Assess and Plan Your Treatment?
Clear aligners are the tool used to move your teeth, but your treatment plan determines how they’re intended to move.
Before starting treatment, find out who will assess your teeth and bite, design your treatment plan and oversee your care.
At Urban Smile, every clear aligner treatment plan is designed by one of our Specialist Orthodontists, Dr Igor Lavrin or Dr Sarah Lawrence. Specialist Orthodontists are dentists who have completed additional specialist training in diagnosing and treating concerns with tooth alignment and the bite.
Questions to ask:
- Who will design my treatment plan?
- Will my teeth and bite be assessed before treatment?
- Who will oversee my treatment once I get started?
Learn about the differences between dentists and orthodontists in our guide.
2. What Does the Initial Consultation Include?
A clear aligner consultation should give you an opportunity to understand your teeth, bite and potential treatment options before deciding whether to proceed.
It’s worth asking what clinical records will be taken and whether your suitability for clear aligners will be properly assessed.
At Urban Smile, your free initial consultation includes a discussion about what you’d like to address, digital photographs, X-rays, a 3D scan and an oral health assessment. Your records are then reviewed by a Specialist Orthodontist to determine whether clear aligners are appropriate for you.
3. How Will Your Treatment Be Monitored?
Starting clear aligners is only the beginning. Your clinical team also needs to monitor how your teeth are responding as treatment progresses.
Ask how often you’ll need appointments, what happens between visits and how you can contact the team if you have a question or concern.
At Urban Smile, we combine in-studio appointments with Dental Monitoring. You’ll complete regular scans from home using the app, allowing our clinical team to review your treatment between studio visits and let you know when an in-person appointment is needed.
For many patients, this can mean fewer routine trips to the studio while maintaining regular clinical monitoring.
4. Is There In-Person Clinical Care?
Remote monitoring can be convenient, but it doesn’t replace the need for appropriate in-person care.
Before clear aligner treatment begins, your teeth and oral health need to be assessed to determine whether treatment is appropriate. You’ll also need in-person appointments at different stages of treatment depending on your individual needs.
Look for a provider that makes it clear who you’ll see, where you’ll go and what happens if you need an appointment during treatment.
Urban Smile has studios in Hawthorn, Brunswick and Waurn Ponds, where our clinical team provides in-person care alongside at-home Dental Monitoring.
5. What’s Included in the Treatment Cost?
Price is naturally part of the decision, but make sure you’re comparing what’s actually included, rather than looking at the headline number alone.
Ask for a clear breakdown of your treatment costs, including whether things such as clinical appointments, monitoring and retainers are included or charged separately.
You may also want to ask about:
- Payment plan options
- Deposits and upfront costs
- Private health insurance item numbers
- What happens if additional treatment is recommended
- Any ongoing or aftercare costs
At Urban Smile, we’ll provide a personalised treatment quote before you decide whether to proceed and talk you through the available payment options.
6. What Happens After Clear Aligner Treatment?
Your last aligner isn’t quite the end of your orthodontic journey.
Retainers are an important part of maintaining the position of your teeth after active treatment, so ask about retention before you sign up.
Find out what type of retainers are provided, whether they’re included in your treatment cost and what aftercare is available if your retainer is lost, damaged or eventually needs replacing.
Our treatment plans include a set of custom removable retainers, made for you once your clear aligner treatment is complete. Patients aged 18+ also receive a complimentary Pola Night take-home whitening kit, which you can collect with your retainers following a suitability assessment.
Questions to Ask a Clear Aligner Provider
Before deciding where to have clear aligner treatment, it can help to ask:
- Who will design and oversee my treatment?
- What does my consultation include?
- Are X-rays and a 3D scan taken?
- How will my treatment be monitored?
- Will I have access to in-person clinical care?
- What’s included in my treatment cost?
- Are retainers included?
- What payment options are available?
- Who should I contact if I have a problem during treatment?
A good consultation should give you the opportunity to ask these questions and understand what your individual treatment may involve before making a decision.
Choosing a Clear Aligner Provider in Melbourne
There isn’t one provider that’s going to be the right fit for everyone. What’s important is understanding who is responsible for your care, how your treatment will be planned and monitored, what’s included in the cost and what support you’ll have along the way.
At Urban Smile, we focus on clear aligner treatment, with every treatment plan designed by a Specialist Orthodontist and supported by our clinical team across our Melbourne studios.
If you’re considering clear aligners, book a free consultation to have your teeth and bite assessed, ask your questions and find out whether clear aligner treatment could be suitable for you.
Consultation required to assess suitability. Our Specialist Orthodontists will advise whether clear aligner treatment is appropriate for your individual needs.