Clear aligners move teeth using a series of removable trays. They are discreet and convenient, and their success depends more on wearing them as instructed than on any other single factor: see clear aligners versus braces. Clear aligners move teeth gradually with a series of removable trays, and treatment depends on the wearer, because trays that stay in the case do nothing, and after the teeth are straight a retainer is needed to keep them there, sometimes for the rest of the person's life.
What people want to change with clear aligners
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Spaces between teeth
- Teeth shifted after prior orthodontics
- A bite or alignment concern
Approaches worth comparing
- Clear-aligner treatment
- Limited alignment before cosmetic treatment
- Comprehensive orthodontic referral
- Retention and long-term maintenance
How aligner treatment runs
The appliance does the work only if it is in your mouth. Everything else follows from that.
- Examination, records, photographs and a scan
- Treating any decay or gum disease before movement begins
- A digital plan showing the intended tooth movements
- A series of aligners changed on a set schedule
- Attachments bonded to some teeth to enable specific movements
- Review appointments, refinements if needed, then retainers
What sits inside an aligner price
This is where two quotes most often differ without either being dishonest.
- The complexity and number of aligners in the plan
- Whether refinements are included
- Whether retainers are included, and how many sets
- Replacement cost for a lost aligner
- Any treatment needed before starting
- See what affects clear aligner cost
Discuss the result you want
Just pick a category.
What the research says clear aligners can and cannot do
Published averages put clear aligner treatment at about 13.5 months, with mild cases taking a few months and complex ones up to two years. Trays are worn about 22 hours a day, and a study of compliance defined full compliance as at least 22 hours with at least 75 percent of the aligners.
Systematic reviews describe aligners as a viable alternative to braces for mild to moderate crowding or spacing in adults where no extraction is needed. They report limited efficacy for widening the arch by moving teeth bodily, closing extraction spaces, correcting how the teeth meet, and correcting larger front-to-back or vertical discrepancies. Earlier studies reported that around 80 percent of patients needed a refinement set, and one found more relapse than with braces, so retention deserves the same planning as the aligners.
Common questions
Clear Aligners: questions people ask
How many hours a day do I need to wear them?
Typically around 20 to 22 hours a day, removing them to eat and clean. Wear time is the single biggest predictor of whether the plan works as designed.
Can aligners fix any case?
No. Some movements are more predictable with fixed braces, and some cases combine both. A provider who says every case suits aligners is making a marketing claim: see aligners versus braces.
Will they affect my speech?
Many people notice a slight lisp for a few days that settles as the tongue adapts.
Do I need retainers afterward?
Yes. Teeth drift back without retention, regardless of how they were straightened. Treat retainers as part of the treatment, not an optional extra.
Can I do this without an in-person examination?
Remote models exist, but moving teeth without assessing gum health and decay first carries real risk. An examination is the difference between straightening teeth and straightening problems.
Can I eat with aligners in?
No: they come out for eating and drinking anything other than water. That is part of why wear time discipline matters so much.
Is there an age limit?
No upper limit. Teeth move at any age, though gum health and existing dental work shape what is realistic: see adult orthodontics.