Reviewed by Dr. Maureen Wood, DMD · Updated September 2026
Clear aligners are the esthetic solution for straighter teeth. These virtually invisible and removable aligners are custom-made for your mouth and place enough pressure on your teeth to move them without the need for brackets and wires. Dr. Wood uses clear aligners similar to Invisalign in Rochester and will work with you to determine the best option for your treatment goals. She will monitor your progress with regularly scheduled appointments until your aligner treatment is complete.
Dr. Wood has been a clear aligner provider for over ten years, and she continues to take courses to stay up to date on the latest changes and improvements in clear aligner technology. Clear Aligner technology has greatly improved in the last few years. For many years Invisalign was the only aligner option on the market, but there are now different options with similar and/or better capabilities than Invisalign to choose from.
Spark is another orthodontist directed clear aligner system that is well suited for people with busy and active lifestyles. Spark Clear Aligners are made from a new material in orthodontics that offers key benefits to patients over. This material makes aligners that are more clear, stain less, and can be more comfortable to wear than other aligner systems like Invisalign.
Dr. Wood is constantly looking for the latest and best technology for Rochester, and Spark Clear Aligners are another example of bringing in a new technology.
Gone are the days of messy and uncomfortable impressions! We use an intraoral scanner to produce a highly accurate 3D model of your teeth and bite. It aids in creating custom orthodontic appliances, from expanders to clear aligners to retainers.
In addition to a much more accurate impression and a much more comfortable process, the 3D model allows Dr. Wood to align the teeth digitally to improve overall treatment efficiency. We can even show you a simulation of how your teeth will move, giving you an idea of what results may be achievable with your orthodontic treatment.
Clear aligner treatment at our office uses the same fee structure as braces: most limited cases range from $2500-$4500 and comprehensive treatment from $5500-$7500, with in-house financing bringing payments as low as $150 per month. Dr. Wood does not upcharge for aligners. She always recommends the option that is best for her patients and wants to take price out of the equation. Your exact fee comes from your free consultation.
Aim for 22 hours a day, meaning aligners come out for meals and brushing and go right back in. Wear time is the single biggest factor in whether your treatment finishes on schedule. Aligners sitting in a case don't move teeth.
Both are clear aligner systems, and Dr. Wood treats with both. Spark is made from a newer material that's more clear, stains less, and tends to be more comfortable, while Invisalign is the system Dr. Wood has been a certified provider of for over ten years. At your consultation she'll recommend the one that fits your case, not the one with the bigger ad budget.
Usually, yes. Aligner materials and planning have improved enough that in the right hands almost any case can be treated with clear aligners, and a few bite issues actually respond better to aligners than to braces. The honest answer for your mouth comes from a scan: Dr. Wood will tell you at your free consultation whether aligners alone can get you there or whether she'd combine them with braces.
Yes, because you take them out to eat. Nothing is off the menu, which is one of the big differences from braces. The one rule: only plain water while aligners are in. Coffee, tea, and anything sugary stains or pools under the plastic, so aligners come out, you enjoy it, you brush or rinse, and they go back in.
Call us at (585) 371-6652 and we'll tell you whether to move to your next aligner early, step back to your previous one, or order a replacement. Don't just wait it out; a few days without wear is enough for teeth to drift.
Yes. Teeth try to drift back for the rest of your life, and a retainer is what protects the result you just paid for. Dr. Wood will set you up with retainers at the end of treatment and tell you how often to wear them, typically nightly at first and less often over time.
Yes. Aligners for teens work the same way, with compliance indicators available for parents who want proof the 22 hours are happening. Whether a specific teen is a good fit comes down to the case and the kid, which is exactly what the free consultation sorts out.
Because aligners move teeth whether or not anyone is checking the result. With Dr. Wood, every case starts with X-rays and a scan, she plans the movements herself, and she sees you through every step. Mail-order kits skip the diagnosis, and correcting a bite that moved wrong costs more than treating it right once.
