How Clear Aligners Work: A Step-by-Step Guide to Straighter Teeth

What Are Clear Aligners and How Are They Different from Traditional Braces?

Clear aligners are transparent, removable trays which slowly move teeth into their correct alignment. They are custom-made for each patient from durable plastic so they fit comfortably. 

A key difference between clear aligners and traditional braces is aesthetics. Aligners are virtually invisible as the plastic they’re made from is see-through. Traditional metal braces can’t be hidden so other people see them whenever you talk, eat or smile. Of course, they aren’t permanent though so some people can accept visible braces for a while. 

The other major difference is comfort. Metal braces use brackets and wires and for some people this means irritation from wires rubbing. There are also some restrictions on what you can eat comfortably as many people struggle with crunchy or hard foods like apples. Some people still get a little discomfort with clear aligners but it’s less common. They can also be removed so with aligners there are no dietary restrictions. You can eat, drink, brush, and floss as you normally would. This appeals to many people but it’s worth noting that the aligners must be worn 20-22 hours a day to be effective so you do have to be motivated and disciplined with cleaning the aligners and putting them straight back in after eating. 

We’ll now consider the steps to expect when you decide on clear aligner treatment. 

Step 1: The Initial Consultation and Digital Scan

The first step in starting with clear aligners is a consultation with a dentist or orthodontist. During this first appointment, the dental team will examine your teeth and bite to make sure you are a good candidate for treatment. Clear aligners can correct many common orthodontic issues, such as misalignment, crowding, overbites, and underbites. More complex cases could still need traditional braces or aligners combined with other orthodontic techniques.

Assuming you are a good candidate, the next step is a digital scan of your teeth. Your dental professional uses a scanner to capture a detailed 3D image of your mouth, teeth, and gums. This is usually done with a handheld scanner so you don’t even have to leave the dental chair. The dentist will also likely take photos and X-rays so you likely won’t need messy moulds to be taken. 

Step 2: Your Custom Treatment Plan

After your scans and x-rays are complete, your dentist will design a custom treatment plan which will help you achieve your alignment goals. They will likely use dedicated software which maps out the movement of each tooth from its current position to the final correct position so. This incredible software means both the dentist and you to see the expected outcome before you’ve even started treatment. 

The length of your treatment will vary depending on the starting condition of your teeth but on average, treatments last between 6 and 18 months. The treatment plan will also tell you how many aligner sets you will need as each one can only move teeth so far before a new one is required to accommodate the new teeth positions. Traditional braces are regularly tightened but with aligners the trays are swapped out instead. 

Step 3: Receiving and Wearing Your Aligners

Your aligners will be custom-made in a dental lab and your dental clinic will let you know when they’ve arrived with them and you can come in to have your first set fitted. During this appointment, your dentist will check that the aligners fit properly. They’ll also decide whether you need attachments which are small tooth-coloured bumps that help your aligners stay in place. 

You will generally wear each set of aligners for 1-2 weeks, depending on your treatment plan. As we said above, the aligners should be worn for 20-22 hours per day and you can remove them to brush your teeth or eat & drink but it’s important to be consistent as not wearing the aligners for the correct amount of time can slow your progress or in the worst case scenario even reverse the movement that has already occurred.

During the first few days of wearing a new set of aligners, it is normal to have some discomfort or feel a sense of pressure. This is a good sign as it shows your aligners are working and most patients find that the discomfort fades within a day or two. 

Step 4: Treatment Progression: Changing Aligners & Monitoring Your Progress 

As your treatment moves forward, you will change to a new set of aligners whenever your treatment plan dictates. Each set is slightly different, accommodating the new position of your teeth and continuing the desired movement. You’ll have regular appointments with your dentist, typically every six to eight weeks, to monitor your progress, pick up your new aligner sets and ensure that your teeth are moving as planned.

If needed, your dentist may need to make small adjustments to your treatment. This may mean adding or moving attachment or adjusting the treatment plan to include additional aligners. These tweaks are common and help to make sure you get the results you want. 

Step 5: Maintaining Your New Smile

Once your treatment is complete and your teeth have reached their final position, the focus moves to retaining those great results. Teeth naturally try to shift back to their original positions over time, and this is more likely in the first few months following treatment. To prevent this shift back, your dentist will make you a custom retainer. These look like the clear aligners you’re used to but it won’t need to keep being swapped it’s just to sustain the results not for further movement. 

Retainers are usually worn all day and night for a few weeks after treatment and then you’ll switch to just wearing them at night. Following your dentist’s instructions regarding your retainer is crucial to maintaining your new straight smile. You’ll likely wear your retainer for several years or possibly indefinitely but it’s easy to get used to. 

After aligner treatment, you should also continue with routine dental checkups and keep up your good oral hygiene. These appointments will help your overall oral health, and your dentist will be able to check you aren’t having any movement that could undo your sparkling new smile. 

At Dental @ Niddrie, we will be with you every step of the way through your clear aligner treatment to get you the best results.

Read more about what to expect from our clinic here.