Your Journey to a Confident Smile: How to Proceed with Align.lk
Achieving the smile you’ve always dreamed of is a significant decision. At Align.lk, we believe an informed choice is the best choice. This guide will walk you through the entire process, starting with understanding your options, so you can proceed with confidence.
Study Well: Understanding Your Orthodontic Options
Before you begin, it’s important to understand the landscape of modern teeth straightening. Today, you have more choices than ever to achieve a perfectly aligned smile.
Traditional Braces vs. Clear Aligners
- Traditional Braces: These typically involve metal brackets and wires that are fixed to your teeth. They are highly effective for correcting a wide range of complex dental issues. While they are a proven method, they are very noticeable, can cause some discomfort, and make oral hygiene more challenging.
- Clear Aligners: This is the modern approach to orthodontics. Aligners are custom-made, transparent plastic trays that fit snugly over your teeth. They are virtually invisible, can be removed for eating and cleaning, and are widely considered more comfortable. They are ideal for correcting mild to moderate alignment issues discreetly and effectively.
Choosing Your Aligner Brand
The world of clear aligners includes various brands, from large international names to innovative local providers. While global brands have their place, choosing a dedicated local brand like Align.lk offers unique and powerful advantages.
| Feature | Braces | Branded Aligners | Non Branded Aligners | Align.lk Aligners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Metal wires and brackets (visible) | Transparent, virtually invisible | Transparent, may be less refined | Transparent, virtually invisible |
| Comfort | Can be uncomfortable, with frequent adjustments | Smooth, comfortable, no irritation | May cause discomfort due to inferior material | Smooth, comfortable, custom fit |
| Removability | Not removable | Removable for eating and cleaning | Removable for eating and cleaning | Removable for eating and cleaning |
| Treatment Speed | Longer treatment time | Faster treatment with precise tracking | Varies, often longer than branded aligners | Similar to branded aligners, depends on case |
| Customization | Standard for most cases, adjustments needed | Highly customized based on scans | May lack customization, generic fit | Custom-made for individual needs, handled by consultant orthodontists |
| Cost | Typically more expensive | Higher cost due to premium brands | More affordable, but varies in quality | Affordable, competitive pricing with high quality |
| Effectiveness | Highly effective for all cases | Very effective for mild to moderate cases | Effectiveness can vary depending on quality | Highly effective, treatment overseen by orthodontists |
| Dental Visits | Regular visits for adjustments | Fewer visits, remote monitoring options | Fewer visits, but may need in-person checks | Fewer visits, consultant orthodontist oversight ensures precision |
| Hygiene Maintenance | Requires more effort to clean around brackets | Easy to clean, just remove and brush | Easy to clean, just remove and brush | Easy to clean, just remove and brush, maintains orthodontist-approved care |
| Expert Oversight | Managed by orthodontists/dentists | Managed by orthodontists or dentists | Managed by general dentists or non-specialized providers | Handled only by consultant orthodontists for precision and expertise |
The Align.lk Specialty – A Smarter Choice
Choosing Align.lk means you are choosing the unmatched expertise and reliability of our parent company. Here’s what makes us special:
- Powered by Sri Lanka’s Best: Align.lk is exclusively powered by Smile Dental Hospitals, Sri Lanka’s best dental hospital with a 5-star review rating on Google. This means Smile Dental Hospitals is fully responsible for everything throughout your aligner journey, from the first scan to your final smile, ensuring the highest level of quality and care.
- Local Expertise, Global Standards: Your entire treatment is handled right here in Sri Lanka by our team of leading consultant orthodontists and postgraduate-qualified dental professionals.
- Unmatched Affordability: By managing the entire process locally, we make world-class aligner technology significantly more affordable.
- Complete Transparency: We are the first in Sri Lanka to publish all our treatment prices and payment plans openly on our website. With Align.lk, there are no hidden fees.
- Risk-Free Start: We believe you should be completely confident before you commit. You can start your journey with a free assessment to understand your options perfectly.
Start with a Free Online Assessment. Before even stepping into our clinic, you can begin your journey from home. Visit our Online Assessment webpage to request a free preliminary online assessment, and our team will provide initial feedback to guide you toward the next steps.
Your First 3 Steps Are Completely FREE!
At Align.lk, we believe in full transparency and earning your trust. That’s why your entire initial assessment process is provided with absolutely no cost and no obligation.
This includes:
- Step 1: Your Expert Consultation
- Step 2: Your Advanced 3D Scan & Smile Preview
- Step 3: Your Personalized Plan & Quote Presentation
You only decide to proceed when you are 100% happy with the plan we design for you. It’s a risk-free way to discover your future smile.
Step 1: Your Initial Consultation (Free of Charge)
We offer two convenient and completely free ways to begin your journey. Choose the one that suits you best:
Option 1: Visit Our Experience Studio
This is a great, informal way to get acquainted with our services. It’s perfect for those who want to gather information and see things firsthand before a formal dental consultation.
- What it is: A casual visit to the Align.lk Experience Studio, located on the 2nd floor of the Smile Dental Hospitals.
- Who you’ll meet: Our friendly managers and marketing executives are available to welcome you.
- What you can do: You can clarify all your doubts, see and feel our clear aligners physically, view our state-of-the-art setup, and even meet with our doctors if they are available.
- How to book: This is all free. Simply give us a call beforehand to schedule your visit during working hours on any day of the week.
Option 2: Book a Direct Consultation with Our Consultant Orthodontist
This is a formal clinical consultation for those ready to get an expert opinion on their specific dental needs.
- Who you’ll meet: You will have a dedicated appointment with our Consultant Orthodontist, Dr. Deepal Nanayakkara.
- What you can do: This is your opportunity to have an in-depth discussion about whether your teeth can be straightened with aligners. If aligners aren’t the best option, you can discuss traditional braces as well. You may even be able to start the process for Step 2 by having clear intraoral photographs taken and getting a prescription for necessary radiographs (X-rays).
- Please Note on X-rays: A full mouth X-ray (OPG) is not available with us at the moment, but prescriptions will be provided and other required X-rays can be taken.
- How to book: This comprehensive consultation is also completely free, but happens exclusively on an appointment basis. Please call us to book your slot, and note that appointments are in high demand and usually get fully booked for a week or two in advance.
A Note on Pricing & Duration
During your consultation in Step 1, our team will provide you with a rough estimate of the treatment duration and pricing based on their initial evaluation. If you are potentially okay with this estimate, you can then proceed to the next step for a precise and detailed plan.
Step 2: 3D Scanning & Digital Smile Design (Free of Charge)
Say goodbye to messy dental molds. We use state-of-the-art technology to map out your treatment with incredible precision, all as part of your free assessment.
- Advanced 3D Scan: We will take a quick, comfortable, and highly accurate 3D digital scan of your teeth.
- A Comprehensive Health Check: As an additional benefit, the detailed 3D scan provides a complete picture of your mouth. At the same time, our experts can identify other potential oral health issues you might not be aware of, such as bite irregularities, cavities, or excessive tooth wear. This makes your initial assessment a valuable check-up for your overall dental wellbeing.
- Custom Treatment Plan: Using this comprehensive data, our specialists design a personalized digital treatment plan to address your alignment goals.
- Preview Your Future Smile: The best part? You will get a virtual preview of how your smile will transform, even before you make any commitment!
Step 3: Your Custom Plan & Quote (Free of Charge)
Transparency is at the heart of what we do. Once your custom digital plan is ready our friendly team will present it to you in detail.
- Treatment Overview: We’ll explain how many aligner sets you’ll need and the estimated duration of your treatment.
- Clear, All-Inclusive Quote: We’ll provide a clear, final quote for your treatment. At Align.lk, our free assessment ensures you know everything upfront. We will also discuss our flexible and affordable payment options.
Understanding Your Investment & Treatment Journey
Once your custom plan is presented in Step 3, you will have a clear understanding of the total investment required for your new smile.
- Price Range: Our complete treatment packages range from LKR 300,000 to LKR 500,000.
- Cost & Duration: The final cost and the total duration of your treatment are unique to you. They depend directly on the number of custom aligner trays we need to create to perfectly correct your smile. This final price and timeline will be clearly stated in the personalized quote you receive, with no hidden costs.
- Your Complete Aligner Guide: To help you prepare for the journey ahead, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about life with aligners.
Step 4: Your Confirmation & Payment
Once you are completely happy with the proposed treatment plan and ready to begin, this is the step where you confirm your journey with us.
- Standard Confirmation: To start the fabrication of your aligners, you will need to make a 50% advance payment of your total quoted cost. Once confirmed, we will begin crafting your custom aligners. It will take approximately one to two weeks for us to fabricate the first half of your aligner set.
- Full Payment Option (For Overseas Clients): We offer a convenient option for those who cannot easily return to collect the remaining aligners, such as our overseas customers. By completing the full (100%) payment, we will fabricate and provide you with the complete set of aligners for your entire treatment at once.
Step 5: Aligner Delivery & Treatment Kick-off
This is the exciting, hands-on appointment where your transformation officially begins.
- Consultant-Led Delivery: Your delivery appointment will be handled exclusively by our Consultant Orthodontist.
- Essential Preparations: If your plan requires it, the consultant will perform any necessary procedures like gentle teeth grinding (IPR) or placing small, tooth-colored attachments. These steps are crucial for the aligners to work effectively.
- Comprehensive Guidance: The consultant will provide you with A-to-Z instructions on how to wear, maintain, and clean your aligners. From this day forward, you need to use the aligners as instructed to achieve the best results.
- Your Aligner Starter Kit: You will receive your official Align.lk box, which contains your initial set of aligners, a protective pouch, aligner-removing devices, and special cleaning agents.
- Digital Guide: For your convenience, you can access our detailed online guide at any time. Click here to see the guide through your aligner journey
Step 6: Continuous Monitoring & Unmatched Support
Your journey with us is closely supported from start to finish, offering a level of care you won’t find anywhere else.
- Your Personal WhatsApp Group: Upon starting, you will be added to a private WhatsApp group created just for you. This group is your direct line for the entire journey and includes our Aligner Coordinator, Manager Aligners, the Consultant Orthodontist, and the Managing Director of Smile Dental Hospitals. You can communicate with this expert team anytime.
- Minimal Clinic Visits: Theoretically, you don’t have to visit us regularly. We monitor your progress through the WhatsApp group.
- Required Appointments: You only need to visit the clinic for specific, planned events to remove any attachments at the very end of your journey, or to collect the second half of your aligners if you made a partial payment.
- Follow-ups On Demand: While regular check-ins aren’t mandatory, your comfort is our priority. You are always welcome to meet our consultant for any follow-ups or to address any concerns on demand.
Let’s Get You Smiling!
Ready to start your free, no-obligation smile assessment? Book your consultation at Smile Dental Hospitals today and take the first step toward the confident, aligned smile you’ve always wanted.
