Clear aligners for teens and adults
Clear aligners, including Angel Aligners
Clear aligners are thin, see-through trays made to fit your teeth. Each set moves your teeth a tiny bit, then you switch to the next one. There are no brackets or wires.
Most people won’t notice you’re wearing them unless you tell them, and you might, because it’s fun news.
Dr. Sheldon Salins offers clear aligners at both our Union City and South San Francisco offices, for teens and adults. Our preferred brand is Angel Aligners. And because he’s a board-certified orthodontist, your plan comes from a specialist who actually looks at your bite, your jaw and your face, not just a scan.
Start with a free consult. You get an exam and a treatment plan. There’s no obligation, and you’ll find out whether aligners are right for you before you spend a cent.
Prefer to talk? Call Union City (510) 475-4153 or South SF (650) 952-1010.
How do clear aligners work?
It starts with a detailed record of your teeth. Dr. Salins maps out how each tooth needs to move and in what order. Your aligners are made to match that plan.
You wear each set for a set period, then swap to the next. Each one is shaped a little closer to your finished smile, so your teeth follow along step by step. Some people need small tooth-colored bumps, called attachments, bonded to a few teeth. They give the aligners something to grip, so the teeth move the way they should. Some also need elastics for their bite.
You’ll come in for check-ins along the way, so Dr. Salins can make sure everything is tracking.
Our preferred aligner
What are Angel Aligners?
Angel Aligners is a brand of clear aligner, and it’s the one Dr. Salins prefers to use. It works the same basic way as other clear aligners: a series of custom trays, each one moving your teeth a little further.
The brand matters less than who’s running your treatment. The aligners do the pushing, but the orthodontist decides where your teeth should end up and how to get them there. If you came here with a different aligner brand in mind, bring your questions to the free consult and Dr. Salins will walk you through your options.
Am I a good candidate for clear aligners?
Clear aligners can treat many common problems, including crowding, gaps, and many overbites, underbites and crossbites. Some complex bites are better suited to braces.
The other half of the question is you. Aligners only work while they’re in your mouth. If you’ll wear them faithfully, they’re a great option. If you already know you’d leave them on a lunch tray, braces might be the kinder choice. Dr. Salins will tell you straight either way.
How much do clear aligners cost?
We don’t post a price because it depends on your case. What drives the cost:
- how much your teeth need to move
- how many aligners your plan needs
- whether you need attachments, elastics or extra refinement trays
- what your insurance covers
We’d rather give you your real number than a guess, and we’ll go over it with you before you decide.
Insurance and payment plans
Does insurance cover clear aligners?
Many plans cover aligners the same way they cover braces, as orthodontic treatment. We accept every PPO plan with orthodontic coverage, and our team will help you check what yours pays. Check your plan’s orthodontic lifetime maximum and any age limits.
For whatever insurance leaves over, we offer monthly payment plans.
- PPO plans with orthodontic coverage
- Monthly payment plans
- A free consult, so it costs nothing to find out
How long does aligner treatment take?
A typical case at our practice takes about 24 months, and aligner cases vary a lot. A small touch-up can be much quicker, and a complex bite can take longer. The biggest factor you control is wear time. Aligners left in the case don’t move anything.
How many hours a day do I wear aligners?
Nearly all of them. The usual rule is that aligners stay in except when you’re eating, drinking anything other than plain water, or brushing. You’ll get your exact wear time from Dr. Salins. Pop them back in as soon as you’re done eating.
Do clear aligners hurt?
Not much, for most people. You’ll feel pressure for the first day or two of each new set. That’s how you know they’re working. Some people describe it as a snug, tight feeling more than pain. An over-the-counter, non-aspirin pain reliever can help if you need one. Switching to a new set at bedtime lets you sleep through the tightest part.
With no brackets or wires, nothing rubs your cheeks. If an edge feels rough and keeps bugging you, call us.
Living with aligners
What can I eat and drink with clear aligners?
Anything you like, because you take them out to eat. Popcorn and caramel are back on the menu. The rules are about keeping the aligners and your teeth clean.
Out for meals
Take them out for all food and any drink except plain water. Brush, or at least rinse well, before putting them back in, so food doesn’t get trapped against your teeth.
Mind hot drinks
Hot drinks can warp aligners, and coffee, tea and red wine can stain them. Take them out first. Clean them with a soft toothbrush and cool water, never hot.
Always use the case
Always put them in their case. Napkins are where aligners go to disappear.
What if I lose or break an aligner?
Call the office you go to. Dr. Salins will tell you what to do next, depending on where you are in treatment.
Side by side
Should I get clear aligners or braces?
Both work. Clear aligners are hard to see, come out when you eat, and are easy to brush around. They only work when you wear them, though, so they take some discipline.
Braces are always on and always working, and there’s nothing to lose. They handle complex bites well. Dr. Salins will tell you which one he’d pick for your teeth, and why. If both would work, it’s your call.
Clear aligners
This pageHard to spot, easy to live with
- Nearly invisible, with no brackets or wires
- Come out to eat, so there are no food rules
- Easy to brush and floss around
- Only work while you wear them, which is nearly all day
- Our preferred brand is Angel Aligners
Braces
Always on, always working
- Always on, so there’s nothing to remember and nothing to lose
- Handle complex bites very well
- Metal, clear (ceramic) or self-ligating brackets
- A few food rules: skip hard and sticky foods
- Easier to spot, though clear braces help with that
Either way: a typical case takes about 24 months (yours may be shorter or longer), PPO plans with orthodontic coverage are accepted, and monthly payment plans are available. Not sure which? That’s what the free consult is for.
What happens when aligner treatment is finished?
You’ll move on to retainers. Teeth like to drift back to where they started, and retainers stop that.
Your orthodontist
Why get clear aligners from Dr. Salins?
- A board-certified orthodontist (Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics) plans and checks your treatment in person
- Harvard dental doctorate, with orthodontic specialty training and a master’s from UCLA
- A face-first approach, so your smile is planned around your lips, chin and profile
- The same doctor at every appointment
Two offices, same smiling doctor
Pick whichever is closer. Dr. Salins sees patients at both.
Union City
Serving Fremont, Newark and Hayward
32990 Alvarado-Niles Rd, Suite 950, Union City, CA 94587(510) 475-4153
South San Francisco
Serving Daly City, San Bruno and Millbrae
1405 Huntington Ave, Suite 300, South San Francisco, CA 94080(650) 952-1010Keep exploring
Other treatments
How do I find out if aligners will work for me?
Book a free consult at whichever office is closer. Dr. Salins will examine your teeth and tell you whether aligners, braces or either one would do the job. You’ll leave with a plan, under no obligation. The Union City office also serves Fremont.
Free consultation · Exam and treatment plan · No obligation
