Invisalign and Clear Aligners in Los Angeles
The short answer
Straighter teeth with removable clear trays.
Invisalign and other clear aligners in Los Angeles straighten teeth with a series of removable, nearly invisible trays. Each tray shifts the teeth a small step. At Veneers & Co. Dental Group, Dr. Faraz Farahnik considers aligners when straightening could reach your goal with less change to your natural teeth, either alone or before veneers or bonding.
- Dentist
- Faraz Farahnik, DDS
- Training
- DDS, USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
- License
- California-licensed dentist
- Patients
- Patients travel from across the country and around the world.
Invisalign
What are clear aligners?
Clear aligners are thin, transparent plastic trays made to fit your teeth. Each set has a slightly different shape from the last. Wearing the series in order moves the teeth toward a position planned in software. Dr. Farahnik tells you when to switch to the next set. He also schedules check-ins to compare your progress with the plan.
Invisalign and other aligner systems
Invisalign, made by Align Technology, is a widely known clear aligner system. Several of the studies cited on this page examined it. Other companies make aligners that work on the same principle. At your consultation in Encino, Dr. Farahnik will confirm whether he uses Invisalign or another system.
Invisalign
What can clear aligners correct?
Clear aligners such as Invisalign work well for many everyday alignment problems in adults and in teens who have finished growing. Research reviews describe aligners as a viable alternative to braces for mild to moderate problems that don't need teeth removed. The 2018 systematic review, Clinical effectiveness of Invisalign orthodontic treatment, is listed on PubMed.
- Crowding, where teeth overlap or twist because there isn't quite enough room
- Spacing, including small gaps between front teeth
- Teeth that have drifted after earlier braces; Dr. Farahnik will tell you whether aligners suit your case
- Mild bite issues, in some cases
- Uneven edges caused by position rather than by the shape of the teeth themselves
What aligners find harder
Some movements are less predictable with trays. Reviews report that pulling a tooth further out of the gum is the hardest movement to control, and rotations come next. Aligners also have limited success with large front-to-back or vertical bite corrections, closing spaces left by extractions, and fine-tuning how the back teeth meet. When those are the main problems, braces may do the job better.
Invisalign
Should I choose aligners or braces?
For straightforward cases, aligners and braces often give comparable outcomes. So the decision comes down to the movements you need and how you live. A 2025 meta-analysis of randomized trials found no significant difference in standard alignment scores between aligners and fixed braces for simple cases treated without extractions. It also noted that the evidence was of low quality.
| Clear aligners | Fixed braces | |
|---|---|---|
| What you wear | Clear plastic trays | Brackets and wires bonded to the teeth |
| Removable | Yes: out for meals and cleaning | No |
| Who controls progress | You, by wearing the trays as Dr. Farahnik directs | Works whenever they're on |
| Complex movements | More limited | Wider range |
| Treatment length | Shorter on average in one review | Longer on average in the same review |
| Holding the result | Less effective in one review | More effective in the same review |
In a 2019 meta-analysis, treatment with aligners was shorter, and aligners were good at moving teeth in segments. Braces were better at producing solid contacts between the back teeth, controlling root angle and holding the result.
Invisalign
Why straighten before veneers or bonding?
A tooth that looks too narrow, too long or out of line may simply be in the wrong place. In Dr. Farahnik's planning, moving it first can mean preparing less enamel, choosing fewer veneers, or deciding you don't need them.
How the two fit together
When a cosmetic plan includes both, alignment comes first, and then a retainer holds the teeth in place. Whitening follows if needed, before Dr. Farahnik color-matches any bonding or porcelain. Doing it in the opposite order risks restorations that no longer suit the new positions. Porcelain veneers Composite veneers
Invisalign
Who is a good candidate for clear aligners?
Research supports aligners for teens who have stopped growing and adults with mild to moderate alignment problems that don't need teeth removed. Dr. Farahnik also looks for healthy gums and a commitment to wearing the trays as he directs.
When aligners may not be the right tool
- Severe crowding that needs teeth removed, or large front-to-back or vertical bite differences
- Active gum disease or untreated cavities, which Dr. Farahnik treats first
- Many missing teeth, or heavily restored teeth, which Dr. Farahnik will assess case by case
- Difficulty committing to wearing removable trays consistently
If your case needs more than aligners can reliably deliver, Dr. Farahnik will tell you and explain your other options.
Treatment, step by step
How does aligner treatment work?
At our Encino practice, Invisalign or other aligner treatment moves from a scan to a digital plan, then through a series of trays with regular reviews. Your written plan shows the expected number of check-ins.
Consultation and scan
Dr. Farahnik examines your teeth and gums, takes photographs and X-rays as needed, and records a digital scan or impressions.
The digital plan
Software maps each stage of movement. You can usually see a simulation of the planned result. It's a guide, not a promise: real teeth don't always follow the simulation exactly. Reviewing it together is also the moment to ask what the plan does and doesn't change. For example, straightening alone won't alter the shape of worn edges or the color of old fillings.
Attachments and first trays
Dr. Farahnik may bond small tooth-colored bumps to some teeth so the trays can grip them. You receive your first sets and instructions for wearing and cleaning them.
Progress checks
At each review, Dr. Farahnik checks the fit and tracking and makes any small adjustments.
Refinements
Additional trays to fine-tune the result are common. One prospective study found that, on average, teeth reached only part of the movement planned in the software. Reviews conclude that you can't count on most movements to finish with a single set of trays. Planning for refinements avoids disappointment.
Retainers
Once the teeth are where they should be, Dr. Farahnik gives you retainers to keep them there and tells you how to wear them.
Your first step is a conversation.
Faraz Farahnik, DDS · USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
Invisalign
What is daily life with aligners like?
Dr. Farahnik will tell you how many hours a day to wear the trays. They come out for meals, drinks other than water, and cleaning.
- Pressure with each new set is something Dr. Farahnik prepares patients for.
- Speech may sound slightly different at first.
- Cleaning matters twice over: brush your teeth before putting the trays back, and clean the trays the way Dr. Farahnik shows you.
- Keep the case with you. Wrapping trays in a napkin at a restaurant is how most people lose them.
Invisalign
What if a tray is lost, cracked or stops fitting?
If an Invisalign or other aligner tray is lost, cracked or stops fitting, call our Encino office rather than skipping ahead or going without. Depending on where you are in the series, Dr. Farahnik may ask you to wear the previous set, move to the next one early, or wait for a replacement.
Signs a tray isn't tracking
A small gap between the tray and the tip of a tooth, a tray that no longer snaps fully into place, or an attachment that has come off are all worth reporting. Caught early, these are usually simple to correct; left for weeks, they can mean extra refinement trays later.
Travel and busy weeks
If you travel often during Invisalign or other aligner treatment, ask our Encino office for a spare set to carry. Plan check-ins around trips where you can.
Invisalign
How long does treatment take?
Clear aligner treatment time depends on how far the teeth need to move and how consistently you wear the trays. Mild spacing can be quick; more complex crowding takes considerably longer.
Your plan gives an estimate, which refinements can extend.
Invisalign
What are the risks and limits?
Clear aligners have trade-offs worth knowing before you start.
- Teeth may not track exactly as planned, which is why refinements are common.
- Some movements are harder, such as large bite corrections, and braces may do them better.
- Results depend on wear. Trays left in the case don't move anything.
- Holding the result needs retainers; one review found aligners less effective than braces at retention.
- Pressure or a rubbing tray edge can happen; Dr. Farahnik will tell you what to expect and can smooth an edge.
Cost & insurance
How much do clear aligners cost?
The fee for clear aligners like Invisalign in Encino depends on the movement and how many trays and refinements you need. Dr. Farahnik works with all budgets and price ranges.
Insurance
We accept all PPO insurance plans.
Dr. Farahnik works with all budgets and price ranges.
What affects the cost?
The number of tray stages, expected refinements, any treatment needed before you start, and the retainers at the end. You'll receive a written treatment plan and fee after your exam.
Financing
Financing is subject to each lender's terms and approval.
Questions
Frequently asked questions about Invisalign and clear aligners in Los Angeles
Are clear aligners as effective as braces?
For mild to moderate crowding and spacing, trials comparing the two have found broadly similar results. However, the overall quality of that evidence is low. Braces still have the edge for complex movements, such as large bite corrections and precise control of root position.
Do aligners hurt?
Dr. Farahnik tells patients to expect some pressure or tightness when they switch to a new set. If a tray edge rubs your cheek or tongue, call us and he can smooth it at a visit.
Can I eat and drink with aligners in?
Dr. Farahnik asks patients to take them out to eat and to drink anything other than plain water. Then brush or rinse before putting them back, so no food or sugary drink sits under the trays.
Will I need a retainer afterward?
Yes. Dr. Farahnik provides a retainer at the end of treatment to hold the new alignment, and he will tell you how long and how often to wear it.
Can aligners fix an overbite or underbite?
Aligners can improve some milder bite problems. Research shows aligners are less effective for larger front-to-back or vertical discrepancies. Braces or a referral to an orthodontist may be the better route.
What are attachments?
They are small, tooth-colored bumps Dr. Farahnik may bond to certain teeth so the trays can grip and move them. He polishes them off when treatment ends.
Can I straighten my teeth before getting veneers?
Often, and Dr. Farahnik may recommend it. When the shape problem turns out to be a position problem, he may suggest moving teeth first. That can mean fewer veneers, thinner ones, or sometimes none.
The dentist
Why have your cosmetic dentist plan your aligners?
Dr. Faraz Farahnik, a USC-trained general dentist, plans Invisalign and other clear aligners in Encino as part of the whole smile. He keeps any later whitening, bonding or veneers in mind. Meet Dr. Farahnik
- Education
- UCLA, with honors · DDS, USC, 2018
- Practicing
- Practicing dentist since 2018
- Languages
- English · Farsi
Your first step is a conversation.
Faraz Farahnik, DDS · USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
Begin
Curious whether your teeth can be straightened without braces?
Call (818) 658-9285 or book a visit. You'll find out whether aligners suit your case and roughly what the plan would involve. You'll also learn whether straightening could change what you'd need afterward.