Before Treatment: Assessment and Questions

What happens before clear aligner treatment?

Before any aligner treatment in New Zealand, a registered practitioner

assesses whether treatment is appropriate. That assessment typically

involves records — impressions or a scan, photographs, and X-rays where

needed — a discussion of your goals, and a proposed plan with its limits.

What can this page establish, and what can't it?

This page describes what an assessment usually covers. It cannot tell you

what your own assessment will find, because that depends on your teeth,

bite, and oral health.

Questions worth asking before you agree to anything

• Who is treating me, and are they registered with the Dental Council of

• What records will be taken, and what do they show?
• What is the plan, how long is it expected to take, and what happens if

New Zealand?

• What are the limits and warning signs, and who do I contact with

progress stalls?

• What happens if the provider stops operating mid-treatment?

problems?

Write the answers down. A treatment plan you understand is easier to

review later.

Source: Dental Council of New Zealand — orthodontic resources

(https://dcnz.org.nz/patients-the-public-and-employers/orthodontic-resources-for-patients)

Sources checked: 2026-08-11

_The Aligner Guide editorial team. Editorially checked against cited

sources; not clinically reviewed._

This page provides general information, not diagnosis or treatment

advice. For advice about your circumstances, consult an oral-health

practitioner registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand.