Last updated October 2026
Invisalign has become one of the best-known ways to straighten teeth without metal brackets and wires. Instead of braces, you wear a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually move your teeth, and most people around you will not notice them.
★View the Best Orthodontics in Nelson→If you are considering clear aligners in Nelson, here is how treatment works, who it suits, the downsides worth knowing about and the questions to ask at your first appointment.
What Invisalign is
Invisalign is a brand of clear aligner. Each aligner is a thin, custom-made plastic tray that fits snugly over your teeth. You wear a series of them in order, and each one is shaped to move your teeth a small amount further towards their planned position.
Treatment is planned digitally. Your dental practice takes a 3D scan of your teeth, plans the movements, and the aligners are made to match that plan.
How treatment works
- Assessment
- An examination of your teeth, gums and bite, often with X-rays, to see whether aligners suit your case
- Scan and plan
- A digital scan of your teeth and a treatment plan showing how they are expected to move
- Aligners
- You wear each set of aligners for the period your provider recommends, then move on to the next
- Check-ups
- Regular visits to check progress and fit
- Retainers
- Once your teeth are in position, retainers help hold them there
Some people need small tooth-coloured bumps, called attachments, bonded to a few teeth. They give the aligners something to grip so certain movements are possible. They are removed at the end of treatment.
How many hours a day you wear them
Aligners only move teeth while they are in your mouth, so they need to be worn most of the day and night. Providers commonly ask for around 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat, drink anything other than water, and clean your teeth.
That is the biggest difference from braces. Braces work all the time because they are fixed in place. Aligners rely on you wearing them, so treatment can take longer than planned if they spend too much time in their case.
Who clear aligners suit
Clear aligners are used for many teenagers and adults, for problems such as crowding, gaps and some bite issues. They suit people who want a discreet option and are confident they can wear aligners consistently.
They are not right for every case. Some tooth movements and bite problems are better treated with braces or other approaches, and growing children sometimes need a different kind of care altogether. An assessment is the only way to know what suits your teeth.
Is there an age limit?
There is no upper age limit for straightening teeth. Adults of any age can have orthodontic treatment, provided their teeth and gums are healthy enough. Gum health matters more than age, so your provider will check it before you start.
The downsides worth knowing
Clear aligners have real advantages, but they are not effortless.
- Wear time takes discipline. Forgetting to put aligners back in after meals is the most common reason treatment slows down.
- Eating and drinking. You take aligners out to eat and to drink anything other than water, then clean your teeth before putting them back in.
- Soreness. Teeth often feel tender for a day or two when you start a new set.
- Looking after them. Aligners need cleaning, and they can be lost or damaged if they are wrapped in a napkin at a café.
- Retainers afterwards. Teeth can drift back over time, so wearing retainers as advised is part of the commitment.
What affects the cost
The cost of Invisalign depends on how complex your case is, how many aligners you need, how long treatment takes and what is included, such as check-ups, refinements and retainers. Ask for a written treatment plan with the total cost before you start, and check whether payment plans are available.
Mail-order aligners
Some companies sell aligners online, with you taking your own impressions and the aligners arriving by post. The Dental Council’s information on orthodontic treatment advises consumers to be wary of the safety risks where there is limited or no contact with an oral health practitioner registered in New Zealand.
An in-person assessment checks for decay, gum disease and bite problems before any teeth are moved. That matters, because straightening teeth on unhealthy gums or with an untreated problem can make things worse.
Questions to ask before you start
- Do clear aligners suit my case, or would another option work better?
- How long is treatment likely to take, and how often will I need check-ups?
- What is included in the cost, and what happens if I need extra aligners?
- How long will I need to wear retainers afterwards?
- What happens if I lose or break an aligner?
Where Quin Dental fits
Quin Dental is a general dental practice on New Street in central Nelson with significant experience in orthodontic treatment. As an approved Invisalign provider, the practice uses iTero scanning to create precise 3D models of your teeth for planning, without traditional impressions, and lets you preview how your teeth are planned to move before treatment begins.
Clear aligners are one part of the practice’s wider orthodontic care for children, teenagers and adults, which looks at the relationship between the teeth, jaws and bite rather than straightness alone. Treatment is provided alongside your general dental care, supported by a registered orthodontic auxiliary, and you can meet the Quin Dental team before booking. Appointments can be requested online or by calling 03 928 0121.
