Dr. Mark B. Huls of Huls Orthodontics, serving Champaign and Monticello, IL, is an expert at straightening teeth. Using the latest technology and an understanding of how teeth move, he crafts plans to effectively align smiles, improve oral health, and correct bite misalignments.
One option he offers is clear aligners, an effective and discreet method of treatment. However, a significant factor in the treatment's success is using them correctly. If you're wondering "how often to switch aligners," hear what the experts have to say.
How Clear Aligners Work
Understanding how often to switch aligners requires some background knowledge about how these orthodontic devices work. Each day, you need to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. While wearing them, they gently and gradually shift your teeth to the desired position.
Using technology, your orthodontist will map how your teeth will shift and have the lab create aligners to guide them into the proper positions. Rather than moving your teeth individually like braces, clear aligners move the teeth simultaneously because each tray is made to shift multiple teeth at once.
How Often You Need to Change Your Aligners
Typically, you receive 20 to 30 sets for mild cases, 28 to 36 for moderate cases, and over 30 throughout the course of your treatment for severe cases. Usually, you'll get three sets at a time, and you'll come in for visits before you run out of aligners. During the visits, our orthodontist will evaluate how your teeth are shifting and will adjust your treatment accordingly.
As a general rule, you'll wear each set for one to two weeks before switching to the next. Some factors can affect this, such as not wearing the tray for the recommended amount of time each day.
You may also need to wear a particular set for longer than the standard recommendation if your teeth are taking longer than anticipated to move. If your case is more complex, such as when the gap is large, you may need to wear a set for longer than usual.
Clear aligner treatment with a single set may also be extended if an aligner breaks. You may need to wear the replacement for a bit longer to compensate for the downtime. Depending on the tray's damage, your orthodontist may ask you to wear that set until your new one arrives.
Adult patients may need to wear a set for longer than average to accommodate their slow bone metabolism. This will avoid stressing the teeth too much.
Your clear aligner treatment is completely customized to the complexity and specifics of your case. While that tends to mean you change sets every one to two weeks, sometimes, you may need to wear the same one for a bit longer.
Contact Huls Orthodontics, with locations in Champaign and Monticello, IL, today to start your journey to a more beautiful smile.