Clear aligners: what actually changes, and what does not

Aligners have made orthodontic treatment possible for a lot of adults who would never have agreed to fixed braces. That is a genuine change. But the marketing around them tends to skip the part that decides whether they work.

Wear time is the treatment

Each tray applies a small, planned force. That force only exists while the tray is in your mouth. Twenty to twenty-two hours a day is not a recommendation, it is the mechanism. Patients who wear them for twelve hours a day do not get slower results — they get a plan that stops tracking.

What they are good at

• Crowding and spacing in the front teeth
• Relapse after previous orthodontic treatment
• Cases where appearance during treatment genuinely matters to the patient

What still needs discussion

Certain bite corrections, significant rotations and some skeletal issues are handled better by fixed appliances, or by a combination. An honest consultation will tell you which category you fall into before you commit.

Retainers are not optional

Teeth move throughout life. Whatever moved them into place has to be followed by something that keeps them there. Plan for retainers from the beginning rather than treating them as an afterthought.

General information only. It is not a substitute for an examination — book an appointment for advice about your own teeth.