The video is in Turkish; this page gives a written summary in English.
The success of clear aligner treatment depends largely on wearing the aligners correctly and regularly. In this video, Uzm. Dt. Ahmet Yaşar explains what people having clear aligner treatment should keep in mind in daily life.
The video was recorded in 2021. Up-to-date information, such as wearing times, is written on this page; your personal times are given in your treatment plan.
Putting in, taking out and daily wear
- The aligners must be worn 20–22 hours a day; they are removed only for eating and brushing your teeth.
- Seat the aligners by pressing with your fingers, not by biting them into place.
- When taking them out, start from the back teeth and slowly ease the aligner off the teeth.
Chewies
Chewies are soft, cylinder-shaped rolls that help the aligners seat fully on the teeth. Especially when switching to a new aligner, you bite on them for a few minutes with different teeth over the aligner. How and how often to use them is explained to you.
How many days is each aligner worn?
Each aligner is usually worn for 7–10 days; your personal time is given in your treatment plan. You can follow which aligner you are on in the Patient Panel.
If an aligner does not seat fully on the teeth, that is, if you see a gap between the tooth and the aligner, use the chewies more often. If it does not improve within a few days, call the practice.
Brushing
After eating, brush your teeth first and then put the aligners in. For details: How to brush your teeth during orthodontic treatment
When should the aligners be taken out?
- When eating
- When drinking anything other than water: drinks such as tea, coffee and fruit juice can stay under the aligner and cause decay and staining; hot drinks can distort the aligner
- When brushing your teeth
Cleaning the aligners
Clean the aligners with a soft brush and cold or lukewarm water. Hot water can distort the aligner, and toothpaste can scratch its surface and make it dull.
Does it hurt?
For the first 1–2 days after switching to a new aligner, the teeth may feel tight and tender. This shows that the aligner is applying force to the teeth, and it usually passes quickly.
The bumps on the teeth: attachments
Attachments are small, tooth-coloured bumps bonded to the teeth so that the aligner can grip them better. They are polished off at the end of treatment.
Storing and losing aligners
Keep the aligners in their case when you take them out; aligners wrapped in a napkin are easily lost. If you lose an aligner, call the practice. Usually you will be asked to go back to the previous aligner or move on to the next one; going without an aligner can let the teeth shift back.
More about clear aligner treatment: Clear aligners
