How to Learn Clear Aligners from StraightSmile Solutions- Clear Aligner and Invisalign “Courses” for 2026
Why StraightSmile Solutions Doesn’t Offer a “Full Aligner Course”
One of the most common questions Dr. Amanda hears is:
“Why don’t you teach a full, clear aligner course?”
The answer is simple yet deeply rooted in the way orthodontics is taught. Dr. Amanda argues that one should not take a separate aligner course since clear aligners do not form the basis of orthodontics. They are a delivery system. Aligners can be unpredictable, challenging, and annoying without a clear understanding of how the teeth move.
Orthodontic residents do not start with aligners. They learn:
Straight-wire braces
Phase 1 orthodontics
Growth and airway principles
Only after mastering these fundamentals do they move on to aligners. When clinicians attempt to learn aligners first, comprehension takes longer, and outcomes suffer. StraightSmile Solutions was intentionally designed to mirror residency-style learning because that approach has proven effective.
Why Learning Orthodontic Fundamentals Comes First
Clear aligners are based on the same biological principles as braces. The teeth react to force, anchorage, and timing; software preferences are irrelevant. Clinicians are often not provided with the knowledge of straight-wire mechanics and interceptive orthodontics, and they end up making educated guesses about why aligner plans fail.
Dr. Amanda is confident that clinicians have to:
Learn the movement of teeth with braces.
Acquire orthodontic and airway at an early stage.
Establish orthodontic thinking preceding contact with Aligners.
This will enable aligners to be meaningful rather than appear like black box technology.
Why StraightSmile Solutions Is Aligner-Agnostic
Another reason StraightSmile Solutions does not offer a single, branded aligner course is the simple reality:
There are dozens of aligner companies, and they are constantly changing.
Features are added, removed, rebranded, or discontinued. Teaching a single aligner system inevitably leads to outdated education. Dr. Amanda chooses to remain aligner-agnostic, meaning:
She does not work for aligner companies
Non-disclosure agreements do not restrict her
She can openly discuss what works and what doesn’t
Some companies she discusses frequently because she sees consistent success. Others she does not mention due to legal or professional constraints. Silence does not mean failure, but transparency matters.
The Problem with Branded Aligner Courses
Many Invisalign and clear aligner courses are sponsored or co-sponsored by aligner companies. While these programs can appear comprehensive, they often prioritize:
Branding over biomechanics
Product promotion over fundamentals
Marketing outcomes over long-term predictability
Dr. Amanda has firsthand experience consulting for aligner companies and being discouraged from speaking openly about movements she felt were biologically questionable. This conflict is exactly why StraightSmile Solutions exists independently.
The goal is education and not sales.
The StraightSmile Solutions Aligner Learning Workflow
Step 1: Learn Straight-Wire and Phase 1 Orthodontics
The first step is always the same:
Learn braces and Phase 1 orthodontics.
StraightSmile Solutions offers:
Fully digital orthodontic courses
Phase 1 and airway education
Residency-style foundational learning
For clinicians who do not plan to place brackets clinically, the digital courses alone are more than sufficient and extremely affordable. For those who want hands-on experience, additional options and referrals are available.
There are 27 structured units, designed to be completed at your own pace.
Step 2: Choose Your Aligner Path (Scanner Determines Options)
Once fundamentals are learned, clinicians choose their aligner pathway, which is often dictated by the type of scanner used.
The iTero Route
Higher initial investment
Access to Invisalign and multiple third-party aligners
Exclusive tools like Outcome Simulator and Smile Architect
StraightSmile offices use iTero scanners, but also work with non-Invisalign aligner systems.
The non-iTero Route
Lower cost scanners
More limited Invisalign access in many regions
Still viable with strong orthodontic fundamentals
Scanner choice often determines the flexibility of aligners, so this decision should be made intentionally.
Step 3: Scan Every Patient (Not Just Ortho Cases)
One of the most important recommendations in this workflow is to scan every patient aged six and up.
Scanning becomes:
Routine documentation
Risk management
Patient education
Orthodontic opportunity discovery
Instead of asking patients if they want an orthodontic exam, scanning becomes a standard procedure just like probing or oral cancer screening. This approach creates opportunities that clinicians often overlook.
Step 4: Collect Proper Records
If using Invisalign, Dr. Amanda strongly recommends:
Invisalign Practice App for photos
Integration with Outcome Simulator
Access to Smile Architect and AI tools
For non-Invisalign workflows:
Standard 8-photo orthodontic series
Panoramic X-ray when available
FMX if a pano cannot be obtained
Cephalometric X-rays are not required initially and should be introduced later based on treatment goals. StraightSmile Solutions offers comprehensive Ceph education as a separate offering.
Step 5: Learn Aligner Features Through Free Education
Rather than paying for a branded aligner course, clinicians are encouraged to utilize Dr. Amanda’s extensive free educational resources.
Her Invisalign playlist includes:
Over 300 videos
Feature explanations
Movement analysis
Workflow guidance
While aligner features evolve, understanding how and why they are used remains consistent.
Step 6: Concierge and VIP Support
After data collection and initial learning, StraightSmile Solutions recommends a short-term concierge or VIP membership.
Most clinicians choose:
3 – 6 months of support
Case guidance and troubleshooting
Real-time confidence building
Doctors who implement the full workflow consistently report significant profitability, not because aligners are inherently profitable but because opportunities were already present and are now properly identified.
Why This Workflow Works
Clinicians who follow this workflow:
Understand when to treat and when to refer
Communicate orthodontic needs confidently
Improve restorative, implant, and cosmetic outcomes
Even when cases are referred out, clinicians benefit from understanding why referral is appropriate.
Orthodontics improves:
Comprehensive care
Airway awareness
Long-term treatment stability
Dr. Amanda has never seen an office fail after fully implementing this workflow.
Conclusion
Invisalign and clear aligners do not require learning a brand, but rather learning the basics of orthodontics. StraightSmile Solutions trains clinicians on how orthodontists can think, rather than on how software sells. Clinicians who first learn braces and Phase 1 orthodontics have the freedom, confidence, and predictability of any system of aligners.
This is not an aligner course. It is an orthodontic training on how it should be.