Angel Aligners · Specialist-Planned
Dr Tom Ethell plans most clear aligner cases with Angel Aligners. He also has extensive experience with Invisalign and other aligner systems, so the choice is made on what your teeth need rather than on what the practice happens to stock. This page covers what the Angel system is, how it compares with Invisalign, and how to think about the difference.
Angel Aligners is an established clear aligner system used by orthodontists internationally. Like other systems it works from a digital scan and a treatment plan, then a series of custom trays worn 22 or more hours a day and changed every one to two weeks. The trays are removable for eating and cleaning. What differs between systems is the tray material, how attachments are bonded to the teeth, and the planning software the orthodontist works in.
Both are established systems and both move teeth in a similar way, with staged custom trays against a digital plan. The meaningful differences are in the material the trays are made from, the attachment protocol, and the software the plan is built in. None of that is something you experience directly as a patient. What you do experience is whether the plan was right, whether the attachments were placed accurately, and whether someone caught it early when a tooth was not tracking. That is a function of who is planning and supervising the case, not of the brand name.
Any registered dentist can prescribe clear aligners, Invisalign included. A specialist orthodontist has completed three additional years of full-time university training in tooth movement, which matters most when a case is not straightforward: significant rotations, deep bites, and cases where aligners alone will not reach the planned result. Dr Ethell is an Australian Orthodontic Board certified specialist and treats orthodontic cases only. You see the digital plan for your own teeth before you commit to anything.
Plenty of people arrive having researched Invisalign specifically, because it is by far the best-known name in clear aligners. That is a reasonable starting point and it is worth saying plainly: Tom has worked with Invisalign and will talk you through why he would or would not use a particular system for your case. If after that conversation you would rather be treated with a different system, he will tell you honestly whether that changes your likely result, and he will say so if another practice is a better fit.
FAQs
Both are established clear aligner systems that work in a similar way, with staged custom trays against a digital plan, and they differ in tray material, attachment protocol and planning software. We are not in a position to publish a head-to-head claim about another manufacturer's product, and anyone who does should be asked what they are comparing. What we can say is that the result in a clear aligner case is mostly determined by the quality of the plan and the supervision behind it, which is the part you are choosing when you choose a specialist orthodontist.
You can ask, and it is a fair question to raise at the consultation. Dr Ethell has extensive experience with Invisalign and other clear aligner systems and plans most cases with Angel Aligners. He will explain what he would recommend for your case and why, and he will tell you if a different system or fixed braces would get you a better result.
Aligner fees at the practice are set by what the treatment involves, how much tooth movement is needed and how long treatment runs, rather than by the brand of tray. You receive your exact figure in writing at the consultation before committing to anything. Fees and payment plans are set out on the patient fees page.
It happens in aligner treatment with any system, and catching it early is the point of regular review. We review progress every 8 to 10 weeks, and where a tooth is not following the plan we adjust, add attachments, or refine with a new series of trays. Individual results vary from case to case.
No. You can book a consultation directly. If your dentist has written a referral, bring it along with any recent x-rays.
Inside the practice
Book a consult
An hour-long appointment with Dr Tom — all photos and x-rays, examination, every treatment option open to you, and a written quote to take home.
