Clear Aligners in Marina del Rey
Straighten your teeth with clear aligners Marina del Rey patients can take out to eat, brush and speak: a series of custom removable trays that moves teeth gradually, with far less hardware than fixed braces.
- Voted Westside’s best, twice
- Free consultation
- Most insurance accepted
What clear aligners Marina del Rey treatment can and cannot fix
Clear aligners move teeth with a series of custom, removable trays. Each tray differs slightly from the one before it, and worn in sequence they shift teeth a fraction of a millimeter at a time. We use ClearCorrect, which is close to invisible at conversation distance and comes out for meals, for brushing and for the photograph you did not plan on.
They work well for mild to moderate crowding, spacing, gaps, minor rotations and many bite issues. The limit is the part clear aligners Marina del Rey patients ask about least and should ask about first: severe crowding, teeth that must travel a long way through bone, and skeletal jaw discrepancies are still better handled with fixed braces or an orthodontic referral. We tell you which category your case falls into at the consultation, not six months into it.
For the general clinical background on how tray sequences are designed, read our guide to clear aligners. This page covers what treatment looks like at the Marina del Rey office itself: who plans it, how often you come in, and what happens once the trays run out.
Why clear aligners Marina del Rey patients choose trays over braces
Six differences come up in almost every aligner consultation we run.
- 01
Nearly invisible
Clear trays are far less noticeable than metal brackets and wires, which is the reason most adults ask about them in the first place.
- 02
Removable
Trays come out to eat, brush and floss. Nothing leaves your diet, and cleaning your teeth stays exactly as easy as it is now.
- 03
Fewer chair visits
Check-ins are shorter and less frequent than the wire adjustments fixed braces need month after month.
- 04
Comfortable to wear
Smooth plastic, with no brackets or wires to rub the inside of your cheeks. Expect firm pressure for a day or two with each new tray.
- 05
You see the plan first
Digital planning shows the expected tooth positions before a single tray is made, so you know what you are agreeing to and what it will not achieve.
- 06
Healthy gums first
Teeth move safely only through healthy bone, so gum health is assessed and treated with periodontal care before any tray goes in.
From scan to plan to trays, in three steps
Three appointments frame the treatment. Most of the work happens at home, in between them.
- Step one
Consultation, gum check and digital scan
We examine your teeth and gums, take digital scans rather than putty impressions, and confirm that aligners suit your case. Active gum disease and untreated decay are dealt with first, because moving teeth through inflamed tissue risks the teeth you were trying to straighten.
- Step two
Your digital plan and your tray series
The scan becomes a staged plan showing each increment of movement from where your teeth are now to where they are going. Once you approve it, your full custom series is manufactured and you collect the first trays with clear instructions on the sequence.
- Step three
Wear, check in, refine
You wear each tray as directed and step to the next one in the series. Periodic check-ins confirm the teeth are tracking with the plan. If one lags behind, a short set of refinement trays is made from a fresh scan. Refinements are routine and expected, not a sign that anything went wrong.
Clear aligners Marina del Rey: visiting our office
Aligner treatment is mostly self-managed at home, but you will be back here every few weeks to collect trays and have progress checked, so the practical details are worth knowing before you start.
- Address13400 West Washington Blvd, Suite 202B, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
- ParkingOn-site parking in the building; street parking on Washington
- Areas servedMarina del Rey, Venice, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Culver City, Westchester
- Check-in hoursMon & Tue 10–5, Wed 8:30–4, Thu 8:30–5, Fri 9–2
- Who plans your caseDr. Marjaneh Moghimi, DDS (USC), with Dr. Caroline Malakuti, Dr. Samantha Besser and Dr. Kyle Sung
Check-ins are short, so an early Friday slot works well if you are coming from Venice or Playa Vista and want to avoid Washington at its busiest. Bring your current tray with you to every review.
Costs, insurance and honest wear time
What clear aligners Marina del Rey patients pay depends on how far the teeth have to move and how many trays that takes. A few months of minor alignment and a full arch correction are two different numbers, so we quote the whole course before you begin rather than stage by stage.
We accept most dental insurance plans and check your eligibility for free before your first visit. Orthodontic benefits sit in a separate category from routine coverage on many plans, which is exactly why it is worth checking: see the plans we accept and we will tell you what your share looks like. Without insurance, your initial consultation is free and every plan arrives with its cost attached.
For a neutral, non-commercial explanation of how teeth move and what orthodontic treatment involves, the American Dental Association’s patient resource, MouthHealthy, is a good place to read before your consultation.
Aligners only work if you wear them. Plan on 20 to 22 hours a day, out for meals and for anything other than water. Patients who treat that as a suggestion add months to their own treatment, and we would rather say so now than at month six.
Why patients choose Elegant Dentistry
Twice voted the Westside’s best dental office by readers of The Argonaut, and rated 4.4 across 114 public reviews. The practice has been open since 1997 and is led by Dr. Marjaneh Moghimi, DDS (USC), with implant residency training from UCLA.
General, cosmetic and implant dentistry all sit under one roof here, which matters more during aligner treatment than people expect. If the scan turns up a tooth that needs restoring first, or you want whitening once the trays are finished, none of it means a referral across town. Every set of clear aligners Marina del Rey patients begin here is planned and finished by the same team, alongside your routine general dentistry care.
Clear aligners Marina del Rey questions we are asked most
How long does clear aligner treatment take?
Typically 6 to 18 months, depending on how much movement is needed. Small corrections finish sooner; cases involving rotation or spacing across a whole arch take longer. You get a range at the consultation and an updated one as the teeth actually move.
How many hours a day do I need to wear my aligners?
Most patients wear their aligners 20 to 22 hours a day, removing them only to eat, to drink anything other than water, and to brush. That figure is not padding. Trays worn for less let teeth drift between stages, and the series stops matching your mouth.
Are aligners as effective as fixed braces?
For mild to moderate cases, they can be. Severe crowding, large rotations and skeletal bite problems are still better handled by fixed braces, and we will tell you that rather than sell you a tray series that cannot do the job.
Can aligners fix an overbite or crowding?
Many bite issues and crowding cases, yes. The honest answer depends on how far the teeth need to travel and whether the problem sits in the teeth or in the jaw relationship. The digital scan is what settles that question.
What happens when I finish the last tray?
We compare the result against the original plan. If everything has tracked, you move to retainers. If a tooth has lagged, we take a fresh scan and make a short refinement series. Refinements are a normal part of finishing clear aligners Marina del Rey cases properly.
Will I need a retainer afterwards?
Yes, and indefinitely. Teeth have a memory and drift back without retention. Most patients wear a retainer full time for a short settling period, then nights only from there on. Skipping retention is the most common reason people end up straightening the same teeth twice.
Find out whether aligners suit your case
Your consultation for clear aligners Marina del Rey is free, and it ends with a straight answer about whether trays can do what you want them to. Call or book online and we will check your insurance eligibility at no charge.