What to Expect Week-by-Week with Aligners

Clear Aligners are transparent and flexible trays which are worn over the upper and lower teeth to bring them into their desired position. For a maximum number of patients, clear aligner treatment lasts for a few months to a little over a year. Throughout the treatment, a patient wears multiple clear aligner sets.

One clear aligner set will consist of a pair of clear aligner trays, one of which should be worn on the upper teeth while the other should be worn on the lower teeth.

The clear aligner sets are divided into multiple stages. The sets are manufactured together as per your initial treatment plan and given to you. Depending on the type of clear aligner variant chosen, your dentist will ask you to switch to the next set in 7-14 days. To simplify, set 1 is for stage 1, set 2 is for stage 2, and so on. Each set moves your teeth just a little bit, one after the other, the movements add up, and in a few months, your teeth will have completely moved to their new position, and your desired dream smile is ready for you to cherish.

Fearing confusion? We bet it won’t happen as each aligner from Illusion Aligners is laser marked with your name initials, the order in which a particular aligner set should be worn, and whether it is for the upper or lower arch.

As clear aligner treatment is divided into multiple stages, it is pretty natural for you to be curious and wonder about what to expect at each stage. Let’s find out more about it, along with the details about how clear aligners work, and other important information for you to have a smooth treatment journey.

How Clear Aligners Work?

Clear Aligners are shaped in a manner which exerts forces on the teeth and moves them in the right direction. The force exerted on the teeth is specifically a push force. To ensure the forces are optimum and applied in the correct direction, attachments, buttons, and other auxilliaries are used. Oh, you don’t have to worry, your dentist places it quite easily, and once you get used to the treatment, you will barely notice its presence in your mouth. As far as the types of teeth corrections possible with clear aligners are concerned, the maximum cases can be treated using clear aligners. They are quite efficient in treating bite problems, spacing, crooked teeth, rotated teeth, and more.

So, how does your week-by-week journey look? Let’s find out.

Week-By-Week Journey of Your Clear Aligner Treatment or Clear Aligner Results Timeline

Before Starting the Treatment:

When you first visit the dental clinic, your dentist will take an intraoral scan and send it to us for the aligner treatment plan. Once we send the treatment plan and you and your dentist approve the treatment plan, the aligners are manufactured.

Start of Your Treatment:

You receive your aligners, and your dentist will instruct you about the aligner wear protocol. You will strictly have to wear it for 20-22 hours a day and remove it only while eating or drinking anything except water. You will also receive instructions about maintaining the aligners.

Initial Weeks:

The aligners move your teeth slowly, so during the initial weeks, you may not see any noticeable changes.

Mid-Phase of Treatment:

As weeks pass, you will start to notice tooth movements and significant changes from your pre-treatment state.

Final Weeks:

As you inch closer towards the end of your treatment, you will notice that your teeth are almost at their final desired position.

Refinement Phase:

At the end of the treatment, refinement aligners will be given to you for final adjustments. Once you are done with the refinement aligners, your new smile is ready to boost your confidence!

Post-Treatment:

After the treatment, your dentist will give you retainers to maintain the new tooth positions. We recommend that you diligently follow your dentist’s instructions to wear the retainers.

Most patients achieve their desired alignment within the projected timeline if instructions are followed closely.

Factors Affecting the Timeline of Clear Aligner Treatment

1 - Wearing Time:

Not wearing your aligners for 20–22 hours a day can massively slow down your treatment.

2 - Case Complexity:

Simple fixes (like mild crowding) are faster than complex cases (like severe bite problems).

3 - Tooth Movements:

Some teeth or types of movements (like pulling teeth out) take longer.

4 - Attachments:

Using attachments on your teeth can help move them faster and more accurately.

5 - Extra Steps:

If your treatment needs tooth removal or extra adjustments, it may take longer.

6 - Body Response:

Everyone’s teeth move at different speeds, depending on age and bone health.

7 - Refinements:

Sometimes, extra sets of aligners are needed to get the desired result, which can add time.

When to Contact Your Dentist During the Treatment?

• Fitting Problems: If aligners don’t fit properly after inserting a new set, you must contact your dentist and not try to force them, as it may harm your gums.
• Persistent Pain: If you suffer from pain, discomfort, or soreness that doesn't resolve.
• Attachment Issues: Attachments (small composite bumps on teeth) are important for effective tooth movement. If they detach or feel loose, contact your dentist.
• Unusual Changes: If you notice any unusual tooth movement, shifting, or bite changes.
• Gum Problems: If you suddenly develop gum problems such as bleeding, pain and redness.
• Aligner Issues: If your aligners get damaged, loose or broken.
• Allergies: Allergies should never be avoided. Contact your dentist immediately if you feel that you are getting any type of allergic reaction or irritation in your mouth.
• Non-Compliance: You must wear your clear aligners for at least 20-22 hours every day. If you can't keep them in for this long, your dentist needs to know about it.
• Ask Questions: Don't forget, you can always reach out to your dentist if you are unsure about how your treatment is going or if you need help with your aligners.

Clear Aligner treatment can usually last for a few months to a little over a year. The final duration of treatment depends on the complexity of the treatment and the compliance of the patient. If you feel something is off or if in case you damage/lose your aligners, contact your dentist immediately.

1 – How long does clear aligner treatment usually last?

It lasts for a few months to a little over a year. Strict compliance with the wear protocol is important to yield successful results and complete the treatment in the proposed timeline.

2 – What types of teeth alignment problems are treated by Clear Aligners?

Clear Aligners treat a variety of teeth alignment issues, including spacing, crowding and bite problems. Consult your dentist to test your eligibility for clear aligner treatment. However, you should rest assured that the majority of cases can be successfully treated with clear aligners.

3 – What are the factors affecting a clear aligner treatment timeline?

If you don’t wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day, you will likely face massive delays in treatment results. Also, depending on how complex your case is, your aligner treatment might last longer.

4 – When should you report to your dentist?

If at any stage, you experience something unusual or if there is pain or your aligner fails to fit properly, or if in case you lose or damage aligners, you must contact your dentist immediately.

5 – How to maintain the clear aligner treatment results?

You must diligently wear your retainers to maintain your results from clear aligner treatment.