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Dentistry vocabulary · Orthodontics

Clear aligner

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

nounCommon term

In dentistry, clear aligner means: One of a series of thin, transparent plastic trays made to fit the teeth closely. Each tray moves the teeth slightly, and the patient changes to the next one every week or two.

In Turkish: şeffaf plak, şeffaf plak tedavisi

How it is used

Patients often use a brand name for them. Aligners are worn for most of the day and night and taken out to eat. Orthodontists may bond small tooth-colored attachments so that the aligners can grip and move the teeth.

Example sentences

  1. She chose clear aligners because she didn't want visible braces.

  2. The clear aligners aren't fitting properly any more, so we'll take a new scan.

Common collocations

  • clear aligner therapy
  • a set of aligners
  • wear aligners
  • aligner attachments
  • bracesA fixed orthodontic appliance made of small brackets glued to the teeth and joined by a wire, which slowly moves the teeth into better positions.
  • retainerAn appliance used after braces or aligners to keep the teeth in their new positions. It can be removable, or a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth.
  • impressionAn accurate copy of the teeth and gums, made by pressing soft material in a tray against them or by scanning them, so that a lab can make a crown, denture or aligner.
  • crowdingA lack of space in the jaw for all the teeth to line up straight, so that they overlap, twist or are pushed out of the arch.

More terms: Orthodontics

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.