Overview
Clear aligners are custom-made, removable transparent trays that gradually straighten teeth without brackets or wires. They're nearly invisible and well-suited to many mild-to-moderate orthodontic cases — provided they're worn for 20–22 hours per day, since consistent wear is the single biggest factor in whether treatment succeeds.
The single biggest determinant of whether clear aligners work for you isn't your bite — it's whether you'll actually wear them as directed: 20–22 hours per day, removing them only to eat and clean your teeth. Aligner treatment that underperforms almost always traces back to inconsistent wear, not a flaw in the approach itself. Beyond that:
| Clear Aligners | Metal Braces | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Nearly invisible | Visible |
| Removability | Removable by the patient | Fixed — cannot be removed |
| Oral hygiene | Easier — brush and floss normally with trays out | More effort — brushing/flossing around brackets and wires |
| Treatment complexity | Best for mild-to-moderate cases | Handles more complex and severe cases |
| Office visits | Less frequent — tray changes happen at home | Monthly in-office adjustments typically needed |
| Compliance required | High — success depends on 20–22 hrs/day wear | Low — fixed, so no risk of "forgetting" to wear it |
Typical duration ranges from several months to around two years depending on the case. Check-in visits are less frequent than with braces, since tray changes happen at home roughly every one to two weeks rather than requiring an in-office adjustment each time.
Same principle as braces — once active treatment finishes, a retainer is needed to hold the result. This is not optional or skippable if you want the outcome to last.
This is the highest price point in the Orthodontics category. Given the size of this investment and the length of treatment, payment plan clarity matters more here than almost anywhere else.
The clinic doesn't accept insurance directly; financing is available through ValU, Contact, Souhoola, and Aman.
Clear aligner treatment at Vienna Dental Clinic is performed by Dr. Amr El Anany, Orthodontics — see his profile.
That combination of hands-on clinical experience and rigorous postgraduate training shapes how Dr. El Anany approaches every case: a strong commitment to clinical excellence, paired with the practical judgment that comes from real patient care.
Clear aligners are a series of custom-made, removable, transparent trays that gradually shift your teeth into position — each tray is worn for a set period before moving to the next in the series, with no brackets or wires involved.
Not in the way braces can — you may feel mild pressure for a day or two after switching to each new tray, but it's generally more comfortable day-to-day than fixed braces.
Treatment will take longer than planned, or may not achieve the intended result at all — consistent wear (20–22 hours/day) is what makes this treatment work, more than any other single factor.
Clear aligners are removable, nearly invisible, and require less frequent office visits, but depend entirely on your own consistency. Braces are fixed (no risk of "forgetting" to wear them) and handle more complex cases, but are more visible and need monthly in-office adjustments.
No — aligners should be removed before eating or drinking anything besides water, then cleaned and reinserted afterward.
It's best to remove them first — both to avoid staining the trays and to keep hot liquids from warping the material.
Roughly every one to two weeks, following the sequence set out in your treatment plan.
Rinse them when you take them out, brush gently with a soft brush (avoiding toothpaste, which can be abrasive), and avoid hot water, which can warp the plastic.
This depends on the individual case — worth discussing directly with Dr. Amr El Anany, since candidacy depends on how developed the teen's bite and jaw are, not just age alone.
Contact the clinic as soon as possible — depending on where you are in your treatment plan, you may need to move to the next tray early or have a replacement made.