Clear aligners are custom, removable plastic trays that straighten teeth gradually, one set at a time. At Magical Smiles Point Cook we plan and fit Invisalign; ask us which other aligner systems are currently available. Aligner treatment starts from $4,500 per arch. Below you'll find how they work, where they fall short and what daily life with trays involves.
Most people who ask us about aligners aren't after a dramatic makeover. It's usually one thing — a front tooth that has turned, a small gap, teeth that have crowded since school — and they'd like it sorted without anyone commenting.
Two questions come up in nearly every aligner consultation: does Invisalign deserve its reputation, and are other systems worth a look? Our answers are yes and yes, and the rest of this page explains why.
A clear aligner is a thin, custom-made tray that fits snugly over your teeth. Each tray is shaped very slightly differently from how your teeth sit today, just enough to guide them one small step towards the planned position. Wear it consistently and your teeth gradually follow its shape.
Treatment repeats that step many times. Records of your teeth are used to plan the movements, the aligner manufacturer produces a series of trays from that plan, and you move through them in order, usually changing every week or two. Review visits at our Point Cook clinic check that your teeth are keeping pace with the plan, so a tooth that lags behind is picked up early.
The appeal is easy to see: nothing is bonded to your teeth, the trays come out for eating and brushing, and most people won't notice them in conversation. The trade-off is just as simple. Trays only work while they're in your mouth, so your daily wear decides how well treatment goes.
Invisalign is the clear aligner brand many people know by name. It has been in use for many years across a wide range of cases, from simple crowding to more involved bite corrections, with its own tray material and planning software. For many patients, that long history is reassuring.
It isn't the only good option, though. An aligner is a tool, and the plan behind it matters as much as the logo on the box. Mild crowding in a healthy mouth can often be treated with more than one system, while a complex bite may call for fixed braces or a specialist orthodontist.
Feel free to ask about Invisalign by name. We'll answer with your teeth in front of us: if it's the right fit, we'll explain why, and if something else suits better, we'll tell you that too. For a preview of the stages, our sister clinic's step-by-step guide to the Invisalign process is a useful read.
We offer Invisalign at Point Cook. Other aligner systems are on the market too, and every patient brings a different mouth, set of priorities and budget, so ask us which are currently available. The basic process is shared — records, plan, trays — but the details differ between systems.
A long-established aligner system with a broad range of cases behind it, including more involved crowding and bite corrections. Its own tray material and digital planning make it a sensible first conversation for many patients.
Invisalign is available at our Point Cook clinic. For simpler cases it may not be your only sensible choice, but it's seldom the wrong place to start. More about Invisalign →
Other clinically recognised systems include Angel Aligners. These are made from dental-grade plastic too, and for milder crowding or gaps the experience of planning, trays and reviews feels much the same. Ask us which are currently available at Point Cook.
They aren't a cut-price afterthought; they're different tools for a similar job. If one suits your case better, we'll tell you and explain why.
Picking a system is half the decision. The other half is the plan for your teeth, and wearing the trays as agreed. Bring your questions and we'll give you a straight comparison. Suitability, results and timeframes vary from person to person.
Here's how aligner treatment usually runs at Magical Smiles Point Cook. The number of trays and the timing depend on your teeth.
At one appointment you can compare aligners with braces and, for children, early intervention. Our orthodontic options page sets them side by side.
Examination and records
Your first visit covers your teeth, gums and bite. Planning uses records such as photos and a digital scan or impressions; ask at your consultation how yours will be taken. If any dental work or gum care is needed first, we plan it in before tooth movement begins.
Your plan
From your records we map how each tooth should move and estimate the number of trays and months involved. You'll see the plan and the fee in writing before you commit.
Wearing your trays
Your trays come as a numbered set. Each one is worn for most of the day and night and swapped for the next as advised, coming out only to eat, drink and clean.
Review visits
At each review we compare how your teeth are moving with the plan. Small detours are normal, and spotting them early keeps treatment on course.
Retainers
When the final tray has done its work, a retainer holds your teeth in their new position while they settle. Wearing it as advised is what protects the result.
Aligners handle some jobs very well and others poorly. That has nothing to do with the brand; it depends on the tooth movement needed and the daily commitment trays require.
Asking for a child? Read about Myobrace for kids →
Clear aligners at Magical Smiles start from $4,500 per arch. Your fee depends on how far your teeth need to move, how many trays that takes, whether one or both arches are treated, and any care needed first, such as a clean or fillings. We'll give you the exact figure in writing after your examination.
It's worth checking your health fund before you start, because orthodontic costs aren't covered by Medicare, as healthdirect's guide to orthodontists (last reviewed in November 2024) points out. For teenagers, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule doesn't fund aligners either: Services Australia's guidance, last updated on 1 January 2026, lists orthodontic dental work among the services it won't cover. Eligible children can still claim up to $1,158 over two calendar years (or $1,132 if their two-year period began in 2025) for basic care such as check-ups, cleaning and fillings.
Your fee in writing, before any trays are ordered.
Want to see it as regular repayments? Open the estimator →
The estimator gives an indication only. It isn't a quote or approval for credit.
We accept
About the estimator: it applies typical per-arch pricing and the Humm/National Dental Plan fee formula for your chosen term to show a rough repayment. It's not a quote, and your written fee follows your examination. Finance is subject to each provider's eligibility criteria and approval.
We offer Invisalign, and our recommendation follows your teeth rather than a single brand. If another system would suit you better, we'll say so and tell you whether it's available here.
Regular reviews compare your teeth with the plan, because a small correction mid-treatment is easier than a big one at the end.
Every aligner plan includes retention, since newly straightened teeth don't stay put on their own.
Bring your questions to a consultation. One appointment is usually enough to see whether a clear aligner, fixed braces or a specialist orthodontist is the right answer for your teeth.
Book a consultation (03) 8338 1515This page is general information. How aligners feel, fit and progress varies between people, and your own options are confirmed at an examination.
Most health funds
A consultation at our Point Cook clinic is usually enough to tell whether Invisalign or another aligner system suits your teeth, which are available here and what treatment will cost, in writing, before you decide.