About Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are a method of orthodontic treatment that moves teeth using a series of custom-fabricated, removable trays rather than brackets and wires bonded to the teeth. Each tray is worn for a set period — typically one to two weeks — before progressing to the next in the series. Over the course of treatment, the cumulative effect of those small, controlled movements produces the same clinical result that braces achieve, through a fundamentally different experience.
The appeal is straightforward: the trays are nearly invisible, they can be removed for eating and cleaning, and there are no brackets to irritate the soft tissue of the mouth. For patients who are self-conscious about the appearance of braces, or who have professional or personal reasons to prefer a discreet treatment option, aligners often make treatment feel more compatible with their daily life.
What matters most, though, is not which system looks better — it’s which system is right for a given patient’s case. Clear aligners are highly effective for a wide range of tooth movement, but they are not the best fit for every clinical situation. At Doyle Orthodontics, we evaluate each patient thoroughly before recommending aligners, braces, or a combination of both. If aligners are the right choice for your case, we’ll tell you so and explain why. If they’re not, we’ll tell you that too.
We offer two clear aligner systems: Angel Aligners and SureSmile Aligners. Both are prescribed and monitored by our doctors throughout treatment — this is not a mail-order or direct-to-consumer product. Every treatment plan is built from the detailed diagnostic information we gather at your consultation, including digital scans and, where appropriate, CBCT imaging.
Angel Aligners
Angel Aligners is a doctor-directed clear aligner system designed to handle a broad range of orthodontic cases, including many that require more precise control over tooth movement than some aligner platforms can reliably deliver. The system uses high-clarity, medical-grade aligner material and is manufactured to the exact specifications of the treatment plan our doctors develop for each patient.
What distinguishes Angel Aligners in our practice is the level of clinical input built into the process. Our doctors are closely involved in designing the tooth movement sequence — this isn’t a case where a software algorithm generates a plan and a doctor approves it from a distance. The result is a treatment plan that reflects our doctors’ clinical judgment at every stage, which matters particularly for patients with more complex alignment needs or bite correction goals.
Angel Aligners are available for teens and adults and are well-suited for patients who want the discretion of clear aligner treatment without compromising on the precision of the care behind it.
SureSmile Aligners
SureSmile is a clear aligner system backed by Dentsply Sirona, one of the largest and most established manufacturers in professional dentistry. The platform combines digital treatment planning technology with high-quality aligner fabrication, and it has been used to treat patients across a wide range of case types — from mild crowding and spacing to more involved bite corrections.
One of the strengths of the SureSmile system is the precision of its digital workflow. Treatment planning is built around detailed 3D models of the patient’s dentition, allowing our doctors to map out each stage of tooth movement with a high degree of specificity before a single tray is fabricated. That planning precision translates directly into more predictable outcomes — fewer mid-course corrections and a cleaner path from start to finish.
SureSmile aligners are available for teens and adults and are a strong option for patients whose cases are well-suited to aligner therapy and who want the confidence of a clinically established system managed by an experienced orthodontic team. As with all the treatment options we offer, the recommendation to use SureSmile is based on a thorough evaluation of the individual case — not a default or a preference.
Clear Aligners for Kids
Clear aligners for younger patients are a more recent development in orthodontics, and the question we hear most often from parents is a reasonable one: are they actually appropriate for a child, or are braces still the better choice? The honest answer is that it depends entirely on the individual case — and on the child.
For kids who are still in mixed dentition, meaning they have a combination of baby and permanent teeth, aligner therapy is typically not appropriate yet. The treatment requires a stable set of teeth to attach to and move predictably, which is why we generally see aligner treatment for children begin once most or all of the permanent teeth have come in. In some cases, a child may benefit from an early phase of limited treatment first — using braces or other appliances to address a specific developmental issue — before transitioning to aligners for a second phase of comprehensive treatment.
When aligners are appropriate for a younger patient, there are real advantages. Kids who are motivated to wear them consistently tend to respond well, and parents often appreciate not having to navigate the dietary restrictions and bracket-care routines that come with fixed braces. The trays are removed for eating, brushing, and flossing, which can make maintaining oral hygiene throughout treatment more straightforward.
The important caveat is compliance. Clear aligners only work when they are worn for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours per day. For some kids, that level of consistency is realistic and sustainable. For others, fixed braces are simply the more reliable path to a good outcome. We’ll be direct with you about which we think is the better fit for your child, and we’ll factor in both the clinical picture and what we know about the patient in front of us.
Clear Aligners for Teens
Teenagers are the demographic most often drawn to clear aligners, and for understandable reasons. The high school years carry enough social pressure without adding metal brackets to the equation, and for many teens, the discretion of aligner treatment is genuinely meaningful — not superficial. We take that seriously.
At the same time, aligners for teens require a real conversation about responsibility. The trays must be worn consistently—20 to 22 hours a day—and removed only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and oral hygiene. They need to be tracked, and they need to be cleaned.
For teens who are genuinely invested in their treatment and willing to follow through, aligners are a fantastic option, and the results can be excellent as well. However, for teens who are naturally less consistent, or whose parents know they will struggle with compliance, braces remain the most reliable path to achieving that perfect smile.
This is a conversation we have openly at the consultation — with both the teen and the parent in the room. We’re not trying to steer anyone toward or away from aligners based on anything other than what we honestly believe will produce the best result for that patient. If a teen is a good candidate clinically and the family feels confident about compliance, aligners are a strong option. If there are reservations, we’ll talk through them and make a recommendation we can stand behind.
For teens with more complex bite issues or cases that require precise control over specific tooth movements, we’ll assess whether aligners can achieve the full treatment goal or whether braces — or a combination of both — would serve them better. Complex doesn’t automatically mean braces, and simple doesn’t automatically mean aligners. The case determines the recommendation.
Clear Aligners for Adults
Adults are, in many ways, the ideal clear aligner patients. Compliance tends to be higher, the motivation is typically self-directed, and the ability to remove the trays for professional settings, social occasions, or simply a meal with the family is genuinely valuable in a way that resonates differently for an adult than for a teenager.
Many of the adults we see for aligner treatment fall into one of a few categories. Some are addressing crowding or spacing that was never treated in adolescence. Some have noticed a gradual shifting over the years and want to get ahead of it before it becomes a more involved problem. Others are preparing for restorative dental work — implants, crowns, veneers — and their dentist has recommended that alignment be corrected first to ensure the restorative work has the best possible foundation. And some are here for purely aesthetic reasons, which is a perfectly valid reason to pursue treatment.
Whatever brings an adult patient to the consultation, our approach is the same: a thorough evaluation, CBCT imaging where appropriate, and an honest assessment of whether aligners are the right tool for the case. Adults often present with prior dental work, crowding that has worsened with age, or bite relationships that are more involved than they appear on the surface. We account for all of it.
One thing adult patients consistently appreciate is the ability to see the projected treatment outcome before committing. The digital planning process behind both of our aligner systems allows us to show you a simulation of the expected tooth movement from start to finish. It’s not a guarantee — biology doesn’t follow a script exactly — but it gives you a clear sense of what we’re working toward and why, which tends to make the entire treatment experience feel more collaborative and less like something being done to you.
