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Glite Dictionary
🛠️ A positioning tool 🦷 A dental device
aligner

aligner

4.0
A clear plastic device worn over the teeth to straighten them gradually
  • noun
  • /əˈlaɪnər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : alineador
  • You switch to a new set of aligners every few weeks as your teeth shift into position.

Examples

  • In advance is now it's easier than ever with clear aligners from candid.

  • The aligners are virtually invisible and are easy to remove, allowing your child to continue to eat and care for his or her teeth normally.

  • Invisalign is a good solution for many teens because the aligners are invisible and easy to maintain.

How Corrective

brace
85 4.0
aligner
  • Specialized
4.0
retainer
  • Specialized
15 5.6

Surface Forms

aligner singular
aligners plural

Morphology

aligner = align (transparent) = align + er

The word 'aligner' is transparently derived from 'align' with the addition of the agentive suffix '-er'.

Etymology

Aligner comes from an old French word based on ligne, which means 'line'. A dental aligner is a clear tray that slowly moves your teeth into a straight 'line', so it brings your teeth into the right position.