How does the first step of aligner treatment work?

The first step in starting aligner treatment at Cabinet Dentaire Dr. Imad Al Morabit is a digital scan of your teeth using an intra-oral scanner. This is a small wand-like device that the clinician moves around the inside of your mouth, capturing a continuous series of images that are assembled in real time into a precise three-dimensional model of your teeth and gums. The process is quick, comfortable, and produces a far more accurate model than traditional putty impressions.

That digital model is fed directly into orthodontic planning software, where your treatment plan is designed tooth by tooth. The software maps the starting position of every tooth and calculates the sequence of movements needed to reach the final intended position. The result is a detailed animation you can view on screen, showing exactly how your teeth will move at each stage of treatment and what the end result is projected to look like.

This preview stage is important. It is not a marketing tool; it is a clinical planning instrument that gives both of us a clear picture of what is realistic for your case. You can ask questions about specific teeth, discuss the projected final position, and flag anything you are not happy with before the first tray is produced. Only once the plan is agreed upon do we proceed to manufacturing.

The trays are made from the digital files at a specialized production facility using high-precision machines. Each tray in the sequence is slightly different, encoding the next incremental movement. For patients based in Europe, this digital workflow is also what makes remote treatment possible: the full simulation, the prescription, and the tray production all flow from the initial scan, which can be taken during one visit to Nador.