Dr Ali Smiles, Manchester (2026)

25/02/2026

Honoured to Be Speaking at Elevating ClearCorrect Excellence 2026

This June in London, I’ll be delivering a session focused on stepping out of your comfort zone and treating slightly # more complex aligner cases.

Expect practical insights, real cases, and immediately applicable strategies.

If aligners are part of your growth plan for 2026 - I’d love to see you there.

Dentistry

Book here https://www.straumann.com/clearcorrect/gb/en/doctors/Elevate_2026.html

23/02/2026

ORTHODONTIC TRAINEES - ALIGNER STUDY DAY 👩🏻‍🎓👨🏻‍🎓

Following on from last year’s success, the 3rd annual NUC Aligner Study Day for orthodontic residents across the north of England was held on 15th December, and yes, I am just getting time to post about it now!

I really do love teaching and have no financial interest in this study day whatsoever. We set up this up to reflect changes in the orthodontic curriculum and inclusion of aligners within the Membership in Orthodontics exam which trainees must pass. The time given by my fellow speakers is also pro bono, and I’m grateful to Ovais Malik, David Waring and Susi Caldwell for their contributions.

Thank you to the team at ClearCorrect UK for supporting this event. It is very useful for trainees to have interaction with the ClearCorrect team and have some carefully considered commercial exposure. After all, we are involved in shaping the next generation of orthodontists, and they must be able to navigate various products and commercial agreements with some nuance, tact and understanding. Thank you to Carolina Brown and Rebecca Swanton for their support on the day, as well as Tara Khan, Kate Keating and Diana Mihaila behind the scenes.

Looking forward to the next one at the end of the year!

🌐 Aligner Course https://lnkd.in/eadJYDCB

📺 Youtube channel https://shorturl.at/R0Qor

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

SpecialistOrthodontist Manchester Consultant Aligners DentistTips AlignerTreatment OrthodonticEducation

20/02/2026

Excited to share the news that we will be partnering with this year. So if you’d like to learn about orthodontics, aligners and also get accredited with some great aligner providers, then join us on our course!

🗓️ June and October 2026
🌐 www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📺 Youtube channel https://shorturl.at/R0Qor

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

SpecialistOrthodontist Manchester Consultant Aligners DentistTips AlignerTreatment OrthodonticEducation

08/12/2025

⭐️ GET THE BASICS RIGHT! ⭐️

I have taught and mentored quite a lot of dentists over the years, and always stress the importance of doing the basic things correctly.

Of these, just counting the teeth properly is high on the list of things that clinicians forget about! I can’t tell you how many cases I have seen with an extra lower incisor, a missing upper lateral incisor, or a deciduous canine confused for a permanent canine. These seem like small issues but they have a huge impact on case planning, delivering treatment and of course outcome.

I always teach trainees and my course delegates to maintain a very systematic approach to case assessment which helps to avoid mistakes, poor outcomes and complaints.

🌐 Aligner Course https://www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv
📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

08/12/2025

⭐️ GET THE BASICS RIGHT! ⭐️

I have taught and mentored quite a lot of dentists over the years, and always stress the importance of doing the basic things correctly.

Of these, just counting the teeth properly is high on the list of things that clinicians forget about! I can’t tell you how many cases I have seen with an extra lower incisor, a missing upper lateral incisor, or a deciduous canine confused for a permanent canine. These seem like small issues but they have a huge impact on case planning, delivering treatment and of course outcome.

I always teach trainees and my course delegates to maintain a very systematic approach to case assessment which helps to avoid mistakes, poor outcomes and complaints.

🌐 Aligner Course https://www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv
📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

22/10/2025

ALIGNER PRO COURSE 10-11 October 2025

The final aligner course (and the 7th cohort!) for 2025 is finished! When I started this journey, I wondered if even one person would show up to the first first cohort in 2023 and I still remember the person who bought that first ticket.

The course has changed quite a bit in the last 3 years. I have structured it to maximise the application in clinical practice and try to deliver as much content as possible. It has evolved in to a packed 2 days of learning, with hands on components, IPR and plenty of question time.

And of course, my delegates will tell you themselves that I always bring classic south Asian hospitality so one can expect great food and an expanded waistline by the time one leaves!

We have brought on board partners to support the education. I am proud to say this is the only UK course which is accredited by Straumann ClearCorrect and our delegates walk away with access to ClearCorrect aligners from an independently run course, something no one else is able to offer. TOC have also supported our IPR sessions, a hands-on component to the teaching which other shorter courses struggle to deliver.

I am looking forward to more growth in 2026, learning from my own cases, transferring this learning into education for my delegates, and working collaboratively with our partners. Bring it on!

🌐 Aligner Course https://www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📺 Youtube channel https://shorturl.at/R0Qor

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

06/08/2025

⭐️ TOP TIPS FOR PICKING THE RIGHT ORTHODONTIC CASE ⭐️

While some practices are reporting a downturn in uptake of private treatment, perhaps this can be alleviated in some way by really understanding what the patient is coming to see you for.

So here are my top tips on how to manage any patient coming to see you.

1️⃣ Remember that atients coming for orthodontics generally have concerns which are dental, facial or both.
2️⃣ Identify these concerns using really focused but gently phrased questions. Your patient will probably not have been interviewed like this before!
3️⃣ Patients with dental concerns only can be treated by GDPs or specialists
4️⃣ Patients who have facial concerns are likely to need multidisciplinary care and should be referred to a consultant orthodontist.

I always teach trainees and my course delegates to maintain a very systematic approach to case assessment which of course includes the patient interview, probably the most important part of the whole discussion.

🌐 Aligner Course https://www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv
📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

04/08/2025

ALIGNER COURSE TESTIMONIAL ✅

One of my recent delegates Safoora came to us having some experience with aligners but wanting to learn more from an aligner course not tied to a specific brand. It’s great to see dentists not resting on their laurels and continuing their education. This is really the only way to ensure you’re at the top of your game and always improving.

🌐 Aligner Course https://www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📺 Youtube channel https://shorturl.at/R0Qor

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

31/07/2025

Re-treatment after aligners

I often receive referrals for patients who have had previous treatment and either not worn their retainers, or sometime when things haven’t gone to plan. This case is the latter, and I am beginning to see more of this from my referral base.

CASE SUMMARY
Sk I, Incisors I, Crossbite LL2 LL3

PLAN
1 - Fixed appliances
2 - IPR
3 - Long term retention with VFRs

The patient was unhappy with crossbite of LL23 which was causing a displacement. You can see how distorted the lower arch form is, with obvious flaring and proclination around these teeth. This is likely to have been caused by the canine being buccally displaced to begin with, and insufficient relief of crowding leading to the other teeth also flaring out.

How did I treat it?

The plan is always obvious when aetiology of the malocclusion has been correctly identified. We used fixed braces, performed some IPR in the lower arch, and managed to bring the teeth back into a normal arch form.

This also eliminated a slightly displacement, and produced better buccal inter-cuspation which idealised canine guidance and improves long term stability.

What could be better?

I feel I could have added further torque to the LL2 and LL3, just to aid long term stability. The downside of this would be risking potential further ginigival recession of these teeth, which already show some early attachment loss.

We keep learning 👨🏻‍🎓 Comments welcome.

🌐 Orthodontic resources https://shorturl.at/rb5xg

📺 Youtube channel https://shorturl.at/R0Qor

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv

25/07/2025

⭐️ TOP TIPS FOR ALIGNER PRESCRIPTIONS ⭐️

In an era where clinicians are becoming time-poor with increasing workloads, developing efficient workflows has become more important than ever.

This is no different with aligners. Submitting a high quality prescription should improve the quality of the plan you get back from the lab, and will translate into fewer revisions and less time spent staring at your laptop screen.

So here are my top tips when submitting an aligner prescription.
1️⃣ Be very clear in what you are requesting and use short sentences
2️⃣ Use headings to clarify what you’re speaking about e.g. IPR or Staging
3️⃣ Plan the lower arch first
4️⃣ Describe how the upper arch then fits around the lower.

I always teach trainees and delegates to maintain a very systematic approach to their cases, from diagnosis/assessment through to treatment planning and delivery. A systematic methodology reduces the risk of errors and improves efficiency every time!

🌐 Aligner Course https://www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv
📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

23/07/2025

ORTHODONTIC TRAINEES - ALIGNER STUDY DAY 👩🏻‍🎓👨🏻‍🎓

Following on from last year’s success, the second Aligner study for orthodontic residents across the north of England was held in February this year. That’s right, it’s taken me 5 months to finally get around to posting this!

I really do love teaching and have no financial interest in this study day whatsoever. We set up this up to reflect changes in the orthodontic curriculum and inclusion of aligners within the Membership in Orthodontics exam which trainees must pass. The time given by my fellow speakers is also pro bono, and I’m grateful to Ovais Malik, David Waring and Susi Caldwell for their contributions.

I wanted to thank Caroline at ClearCorrect Straumann for supporting this event. It is very useful for trainees to have interaction with the ClearCorrect team and have some carefully considered commercial exposure. After all, we are involved in shaping the next generation of orthodontists, and they must be able to navigate various products and commercial agreements with some nuance, tact and understanding. Thank you to Sze and Rebecca for their support on the day.

Looking forward to the next one at the end of the year!

🌐 Aligner Course https://www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📺 Youtube channel https://shorturl.at/R0Qor

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

21/07/2025

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT OF TRAUMATISED TEETH

Here is a typical referral case I would treat.

CASE SUMMARY
Sk mild II, Incisors II/1, trauma UR1

PLAN
1 - Twin Block functional appliance
2 - Upper and lower fixed appliances
3 - Long term retention with VFRs

While the malocclusion is not insignificant, the main concern with this case was management of historical trauma to UR1 which had caused some shortening of the tooth root.

What does the literature say about orthodontic treatment for traumatised teeth?

Studies consistently show that orthodontic forces can exacerbate root resorption in teeth that have previously suffered trauma, especially luxation injuries (e.g., extrusion, intrusion) and avulsion followed by replantation. The risk is especially high if there has been ankylosis, replacement resorption, or severe inflammatory resorptionprior to treatment (Kindelan 2008, Malmgren 1982).

What are the orthodontic management principles for traumatised teeth?

- Conduct a thorough trauma history and take baseline radiograph.
- Delay treatment at least 6 months, or longer depending on the severity of trauma.
- Use low, controlled orthodontic forces (e.g. increase wire size slowly and incrementally, avoid rectangular wires)
- Avoid lengthy treatment.
- Radiographic monitoring during treatment

What happened in this case?

Some additional root resorption is evident on the second radiograph. The tooth was asymptomatic during treatment, and all is well at the conclusion of orthodontic treatment. In retrospect, I could have taken more radiographs during the course of treatment but I am not sure it would have changed much.

👉 Follow for more orthodontic tips and insights.

🌐 Aligner Course https://www.orthodontia.co.uk/courses

📺 Youtube channel https://shorturl.at/R0Qor

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/ZkIwv

📷 Instagram https://shorturl.at/p6TPp

Dr Ali Smiles

25/02/2026

23/02/2026

20/02/2026

08/12/2025

08/12/2025

22/10/2025

06/08/2025

04/08/2025

31/07/2025

25/07/2025

23/07/2025

21/07/2025

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