Invisible Aligners in Tenerife: How They Work & Why We Use Angel Aligner

Straightening your teeth in Tenerife? How invisible aligners work, what attachments are, and why our orthodontist chose Angel Aligner. Free consultation.ación

Aidan

9/19/20266 min read

Most people who ask us about straightening their teeth have been thinking about it for years. Usually it's one tooth that has drifted, a gap that has slowly opened up, or crowding at the bottom that didn't bother you at 25 but does now. And nearly everyone says the same thing: "I just don't want a mouth full of metal."

Fair enough. For most adults, you don't need one. Invisible aligners are clear, removable trays that move your teeth a fraction at a time. They can now treat the majority of cases that once meant fixed braces.

This guide covers how aligners actually work and what those little "buttons" on your teeth are for. It also compares aligners with braces and explains why our orthodontist, Dra. Deborah Martinez, uses Angel Aligner for her patients here in Los Gigantes.

Key takeaways about invisible aligners

Invisible aligners are a series of clear, custom-made trays. Each one moves your teeth slightly, and you switch to the next tray every week or two.
Small tooth-coloured "attachments" help the aligners grip your teeth. They're painless to place and are polished off when treatment ends.
Aligners suit most adults, but not every case. An honest assessment at the start matters more than the brand.
We use Angel Aligner because our orthodontist chose it. Dra. Martinez, who has more than 20 years of experience, rates it for precise planning and for handling more complex cases.
Your first consultation is free. Bring a recent X-ray, or have one taken with us beforehand, and we can give you an exact quote on the day.

What are invisible aligners?

Think of climbing a staircase rather than jumping straight to the top floor.

Before treatment starts, your orthodontist builds a 3D model of your teeth and plans exactly where each one needs to go. That movement is then broken into dozens of tiny steps. Each step becomes a clear plastic tray, made to fit your teeth at that exact stage.

You wear each tray for around one to two weeks. It applies gentle, steady pressure, and your teeth gradually shift into its shape. Then you move on to the next tray and the next small step.

A few practical points:

You wear them 20 to 22 hours a day. That's the one real commitment. They only work while they're in.
You take them out to eat and drink anything other than water. No foods are off-limits, which is a big change from braces.
You brush and floss as normal. There are no wires to thread floss around.
Most people won't notice you're wearing them. Up close, your teeth just look slightly glossier.

What are the "buttons" on the teeth? (Attachments explained)

This is the question we get most often, usually after someone has seen a friend's aligners up close.

Picture trying to open a jar with a completely smooth lid and wet hands. You can push as hard as you like, but your grip slips. That's the problem aligners face. A smooth plastic tray sitting over smooth teeth can only push so well in certain directions, especially when a tooth needs to rotate or move up or down.

Attachments fix this. They're small bumps of tooth-coloured composite, the same material used for white fillings, bonded onto specific teeth. The aligner is shaped to fit around them, so it now has something to grip. It's the same reason jar lids have ridges.

What you should know about attachments:

Placing them doesn't hurt. There's no drilling and no injection. The composite is shaped onto the tooth and set with a light.
Not everyone needs them. Where you do, it's usually only a few teeth, depending on what those teeth need to do.
They're tooth-coloured. People might notice them close up, but not across a table.
They come off at the end. Your dentist removes them and polishes the tooth smooth.

What about the angelButton?

Some cases need more than straightening. If your top and bottom teeth don't meet properly, you may need small elastic bands to guide your bite into place. The bands need an anchor point.

Angel Aligner has built that anchor point into the aligner itself. It's called the angelButton, and it won the 2024 Best New Product award from The Digital Orthodontist. For patients, it can mean less extra hardware bonded to the teeth when elastics are needed.

Why we use Angel Aligner

Dra. Deborah Martinez has been an orthodontist for more than 20 years. When she joined Raíces, the choice of aligner system was hers, and she chose Angel Aligner. Her reasons are practical ones.

The planning is precise. Angel's iOrtho software lets her map every tooth movement before treatment starts, down to how the roots will move. It also means you can see a simulation of your predicted result before you commit to anything.

It handles more than simple cases. Features like the angelButton, and dedicated solutions for bite correction, let her treat problems that some aligner systems struggle with. She isn't limited to straightening the front six teeth.

It has a long track record. Angel Aligner has been developing clear aligners since 2003 and has treated more than two million patients worldwide.

What treatment looks like at Clínica Dental Raíces

Free consultation. Dra. Martinez examines your teeth, listens to what bothers you, and tells you honestly whether aligners are right for you. For an exact quote on the day, you'll need a recent X-ray. You can have one taken with us beforehand or bring your own.
Digital scan and treatment plan. We scan your teeth and she builds your plan in 3D. You'll see how your teeth are expected to move and roughly how long treatment will take.
Attachments and your first aligners. If you need attachments, we place them at this appointment. You leave wearing your first trays.
Regular check-ins. You come back every few weeks so we can check progress and give you your next sets of aligners.
Retainers. Once your teeth are where they should be, a retainer keeps them there. This step matters: teeth have a memory, and without a retainer they tend to drift back.

Because treatment involves regular visits over several months, it works best for people who live here. If you go back to Ireland, the UK or elsewhere for a few weeks in summer, tell us early and we'll plan around it.

Book your free aligner consultation

If you've been putting off straightening your teeth, the first step costs nothing. Come and see Dra. Martinez in Los Gigantes, get an honest opinion, and leave with a clear plan and a clear price.

Tip: Have your X-ray taken with us before the consultation, or bring a recent one, so we can give you an exact quote on the day.

Book now

Frequently asked questions

Do invisible aligners hurt?
Most people feel pressure for a day or two when they switch to a new tray. It feels like tightness, not pain, and it's a sign the aligners are working. Nearly everyone finds it far more comfortable than braces.

How long does treatment take?
It depends entirely on your case. Minor corrections can take a few months, and more complex cases can take over a year. You'll get a realistic estimate at your consultation once Dra. Martinez has seen your X-ray.

Can I eat and drink with aligners in?
Only water. Take them out for everything else, then brush before putting them back in. Otherwise, food and sugary drinks get trapped against your teeth.

Will people notice the attachments?
Rarely. They're tooth-coloured and small. Someone standing very close might spot them, but most people won't.

I had braces as a teenager and my teeth have moved back. Can aligners fix that?
Yes. This is one of the most common reasons adults come to us. Relapse after old braces is often a very good fit for aligners.

Am I too old for aligners?
There's no upper age limit. What matters is healthy gums and bone, and Dra. Martinez will check both at your consultation.

How much do invisible aligners cost in Tenerife?
Every case is different, so we don't quote a figure until we've seen you. Book your free consultation, have an X-ray taken with us or bring a recent one, and we'll give you an exact price on the day.

What if I'm away from Tenerife for part of the year?
Let us know at the start. Many of our patients split their time between Tenerife and home, and we can plan your treatment around the time you're away.