What Clear Aligners Can Address
Aligners are generally considered for certain types of crowding, spacing or misalignment. They aren't suitable for every orthodontic case — more complex tooth movements may be better addressed with traditional braces or another approach. Whether aligners specifically apply to your own teeth is an assessment question, not something this page decides.
Wear Responsibilities
Because aligners are removable, how well they work depends heavily on wearing them as instructed by your clinician. Taking them out more than recommended, or for longer than advised, can slow progress or affect the planned outcome. This is a responsibility that sits largely with you as the patient, alongside your clinician's planning.
How Clear Aligners Differ from Traditional Braces
Aligners are removable — you take them out to eat and clean your teeth, then put them back in. Traditional braces are fixed to your teeth for the duration of treatment and aren't something you remove yourself. Neither is presented here as faster, more effective, or requiring fewer appointments than the other; which suits your own case is a clinical decision. See Traditional Braces for that alternative.
Assessment and Planning
Assessment generally includes an examination of your teeth and bite, and often impressions, scans or photographs used to plan the series of aligners. This is also when your clinician would confirm whether aligners, rather than another option, are likely to achieve what you're looking for.
What to Expect in General Terms
Treatment generally involves working through a series of aligners in sequence, with periodic check-ins so your clinician can monitor progress. The number of aligners and how long each is worn for depends entirely on your individual plan and isn't stated in general terms here.
Oral Hygiene During Treatment
Because aligners are removed for eating and cleaning, keeping your teeth clean generally involves brushing before putting the aligner back in, and cleaning the aligner itself as advised. This is a general consideration your clinician would go through with you.
Considerations and Limitations
As already noted, aligners aren't suitable for every case, and their success depends on consistent wear. Some general discomfort when moving to a new aligner in the series is a common consideration, and outcomes vary between individuals. No specific timeframe or number of appointments is promised here.
Retention After Treatment
Once active treatment with aligners is finished, keeping your teeth in their new position is a separate stage, generally involving a retainer. The specific type of retainer and how long it's needed is a decision made with your clinician and isn't set out in general terms on this page.
Related Treatments
For a fixed alternative, see Traditional Braces.
General information only — every treatment decision follows an individual clinical assessment.