Invisalign Glossary: Every Term Explained in Plain English
ClinCheck, IPR, attachments, refinements, Vivera — Invisalign comes with its own vocabulary. This glossary explains each term in one or two sentences, written and reviewed by the orthodontists at The Dental Specialists, Hyderabad.
The key Invisalign terms are: iTero (the 3D scanner that replaces impressions), ClinCheck (software that plans and previews tooth movement), attachments (small tooth-coloured grips bonded to teeth), IPR (polishing tiny amounts of enamel to create space), refinements (extra aligners to fine-tune the result) and Vivera (Align's retainers worn after treatment).
Medically reviewed by Dr. P. Sarika, BDS, MDS (Orthodontics) · Last updated 10 October 2026
Invisalign Terms and What They Mean
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Invisalign | A brand of clear, removable aligners made by Align Technology that gradually move teeth using a series of custom trays. |
| Clear aligners | The general term for transparent, removable trays that straighten teeth; Invisalign is the best-known brand. |
| SmartTrack | Align Technology's patented multi-layer aligner material, designed for a snug fit and more predictable tooth movement. |
| iTero scan | A 3D optical scan of the teeth taken with Align's iTero intraoral scanner, replacing putty impressions; takes about 5 minutes. |
| ClinCheck | Align's treatment-planning software that maps every tooth movement and shows a 3D simulation of the expected result before aligners are made. |
| Attachments | Small tooth-coloured bumps bonded to some teeth so aligners can grip and rotate or move them more precisely; removed at the end. |
| IPR (interproximal reduction) | Gentle polishing of a fraction of a millimetre of enamel between teeth to create space for alignment; also called slenderising. |
| Refinement | An extra set of aligners made from a new scan near the end of treatment to fine-tune any teeth that haven't fully reached their target. |
| Vivera retainers | Align Technology's clear retainers, made from a strong material and worn after treatment to stop teeth moving back. |
| Chewies | Soft cylinders you bite on for a few minutes to seat aligners fully against the teeth. |
| Compliance indicator | A blue dot on Invisalign Teen aligners that fades with wear, helping parents and doctors track wear time. |
| Precision wings | Small extensions on some Invisalign aligners used to move the lower jaw forward in growing patients with an overbite (mandibular advancement). |
| Elastics (rubber bands) | Small bands hooked to aligners or buttons to help correct bite relationships between the upper and lower jaws. |
| Wear time | The 20–22 hours a day aligners need to be worn for treatment to stay on schedule. |
| Invisalign Lite | A shorter Invisalign plan with up to 14 aligners for mild crowding or spacing; at TDS from ₹1,20,000. |
| Invisalign Moderate | A mid-length plan with up to 26 aligners for moderate cases; at TDS from ₹1,60,000. |
| Invisalign Comprehensive | The full Invisalign plan with as many aligners as the case needs, for complex crowding and bite correction; at TDS from ₹2,20,000. |
| Invisalign Teen | Invisalign for adolescents, with compliance indicators and allowance for erupting teeth; at TDS from ₹1,60,000. |
| Invisalign First | Invisalign for children aged roughly 6–10 with mixed baby and adult teeth, used for early (Phase 1) treatment. |
| Malocclusion | Any misalignment of teeth or bite, including crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, crossbite and open bite. |
| Overbite (deep bite) | When the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth too much vertically. |
| Overjet | When the upper front teeth stick out too far forward horizontally — often called protruding or 'buck' teeth. |
| Underbite | When the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth. |
| Crossbite | When some upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth when biting, at the front or sides. |
| Open bite | When the upper and lower front teeth don't meet when the back teeth are closed. |
| Diastema | A gap between two teeth, most commonly between the upper front teeth. |
| Relapse | Teeth drifting back toward their old positions after orthodontic treatment, usually because retainers weren't worn. |
| MDS Orthodontics | A three-year Master of Dental Surgery specialisation in orthodontics — the specialist qualification for moving teeth and jaws in India. |
IPR stands for interproximal reduction — polishing away a fraction of a millimetre of enamel between certain teeth to make room for them to align. It's painless, done in minutes, and planned in advance in ClinCheck.
Small, tooth-coloured composite bumps bonded to selected teeth. They give the aligners something to push against for movements like rotations. They're polished off at the end of treatment.
ClinCheck is Align Technology's software that maps out every stage of tooth movement and shows a 3D animation of your expected result. At TDS you see your ClinCheck plan before you pay for treatment.
If some teeth haven't fully reached their planned position, a new scan is taken and a short additional series of aligners is made. Comprehensive plans at TDS include a round of refinements; for Lite and Moderate plans, any extra cost is explained before anything is made.
Clear aligners is the general category; Invisalign is a specific brand made by Align Technology with its own SmartTrack material, ClinCheck software and iTero scanner.