Invisible braces and clear aligner glossary (20 terms).

Aligner

A removable clear plastic tray that gradually moves teeth.

Attachment

A tooth-coloured composite bump that gives aligners a grip.

CAD/CAM

Computer-aided design and manufacturing for aligners.

CBCT

Cone-beam CT, a low-dose 3D dental X-ray.

Cephalometry

The measurement of skull landmarks from a lateral X-ray.

ClinCheck

Invisalign's 3D treatment simulation software.

Crossbite

Upper teeth sit inside lower teeth in a normal bite.

Crowding

Insufficient arch length to accommodate all teeth in alignment.

Digital Smile Design

A digital-first approach to planning smile aesthetics.

Interproximal Reduction (IPR)

Micro-thinning of enamel between teeth to create space.

iTero Scanner

A wand-shaped intraoral scanner used to plan aligners.

Malocclusion

A misalignment between the upper and lower dental arches.

Occlusion

How the upper and lower teeth meet when the mouth is closed.

Open Bite

A vertical gap between upper and lower teeth when biting.

Orthodontics

The dental speciality that diagnoses and corrects malocclusion.

Refinement

A finishing round of aligners after the initial series.

Relapse

Teeth shifting back after treatment ends.

Retainer

A device that holds teeth in their new positions.

Retention

The phase where retainers keep results stable long-term.

Spacing

Gaps between teeth due to size or arch discrepancy.