PATIENT FAQs
Active Aligners Patient FAQs
Common questions about Active Aligners treatment, answered. Before you start, during treatment, and after. No question is too small, so ask your provider anytime.
BEFORE TREATMENT
Before treatment
Am I a candidate?
Most adults and teens are good candidates. Active Aligners treat a wide range of cases, from simple crowding and spacing to genuinely complex movements, bites, rotations and previous orthodontic relapse, provided you have good oral health and the motivation to wear them 22 hours a day. The only real exceptions are the rare cases where an aligner physically can’t engage a tooth, like a high, partially-erupted canine or a deeply impacted tooth, and for those few your dentist may suggest a specialist. The best way to know is to book a consultation, where your dentist assesses your specific case.
How long does treatment take?
On average 6 to 8 months, depending on the complexity of your case, how much your teeth need to move, and your compliance (wearing them 22 hours a day). Your dentist gives you a specific timeline at your consultation.
Treatment times are typical ranges and vary case by case. Your own timeline is set by your treating dentist.
WEARING YOUR ALIGNERS
Wearing your aligners
Will aligners hurt?
Not hurt, but you will feel pressure, especially with each new aligner, which is normal and means they are working. A tight feeling for the first 48 hours, pressure on specific teeth and minor soreness are all normal. Contact your dentist for sharp pain, cuts or sores from the aligners, pain lasting beyond 48 hours, or aligners that will not fit.
Can people see them?
Active Aligners are nearly invisible, so most people will not notice unless you point them out. They might notice a very slight speech change for the first few days, or the small tooth-coloured attachments if your case needs them, but not the clear aligners themselves.
How often do I wear them, and what can I eat?
At least 22 hours a day, removing them only to eat, to drink anything except water, and to brush and floss. Wearing them 22 hours keeps results on schedule. 16 to 18 hours delays results, and less than 16 may mean treatment does not work. There are no food restrictions, just remove the aligners first. With aligners in, only cold or room-temperature water is fine. Coffee, tea, soda, juice, alcohol and hot drinks should be avoided, because staining, trapped sugars and heat can warp the aligners.
CARE AND DAILY LIFE
Care and daily life
How do I clean my aligners?
Remove them, rinse under lukewarm water, brush gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap, rinse thoroughly and reinsert, ideally every time you brush your teeth. Do not use hot water (warps plastic), toothpaste (too abrasive, causes cloudiness), mouthwash (can discolour) or harsh chemicals.
What if I forget to wear them, or they feel loose?
Occasional missed hours are okay, so get back on track immediately. If you miss a full day, put the aligners back in and wear the current one an extra day before changing (contact your dentist if it happens repeatedly). Aligners should feel tight when first inserted and gradually looser as the teeth move, becoming passive by the time you change to the next one. That means they are working.
Smoking, sports and swimming
Smoking is not recommended, because it stains the aligners, traps chemicals against your teeth and slows movement (if you must, remove them first, though that reduces wear time). For sports you can keep aligners in with a mouthguard over the top if needed. For swimming, water will not damage them. For contact sports, ask your dentist about a sports mouthguard.
ATTACHMENTS AND LOST ALIGNERS
Attachments and lost aligners
What are attachments, and what if I lose an aligner?
Attachments are small, tooth-coloured bumps bonded to certain teeth to help the aligners grip for specific movements, and not everyone needs them. They are applied painlessly at your delivery appointment, are barely visible, do not affect eating or drinking, and are removed at the end. If you lose an aligner, contact your dentist immediately. You will usually either go back to the previous aligner, move ahead to the next, or have a replacement made. Keep aligners in their case when not wearing them.
A cracked aligner
Contact your dentist immediately. Depending on timing you will move to the next aligner, back to the previous one, or get a replacement.
An attachment fell off
Contact your dentist the same day. It is usually not urgent, but they may want to re-bond it before you progress.
PROGRESS AND RESULTS
Progress and results
When will I see results?
Most patients notice changes within 4 to 6 weeks. Weeks 1 to 2 are about learning the routine, weeks 3 to 6 show small visible changes, months 2 to 3 show obvious improvement, and months 4 to 8 bring the major transformation and final refinements.
These timings are typical ranges and vary case by case. Your dentist gives you a specific timeline for your treatment.
How do I know it is working?
Aligners fit snugly with no large gaps, you see gradual improvement, and each new aligner feels slightly tight. Warning signs to report are aligners that will not seat fully, large visible gaps, the same aligner still feeling tight after 10 to 14 days, or teeth not moving as expected.
What if my teeth are not perfectly straight at the end?
If teeth are not fully aligned at the end, refinements (new scans and additional aligners) are available. Refinements are a completely normal, planned part of clear aligner treatment, not a sign that something has gone wrong. Around 25 to 35 percent of cases need some refinement, often due to natural biological variation, wear-time compliance, or a planned staged approach, and most patients reach their final result smoothly with their dentist guiding each step.
AFTER TREATMENT
After treatment: retainers and travel
Do I need to wear retainers?
Yes, retainers are essential, because your teeth naturally want to shift back and retainers prevent this. Wear them 22 hours a day for the first 3 months, then at night indefinitely. Your dentist will recommend a fixed retainer (wire bonded behind the teeth), a removable retainer (similar to aligners), or a combination. Teeth can shift at any age, so night-time retainer wear is a small price for a lifetime of straight teeth. Aligners move teeth, and retainers keep them there.
Travelling
Bring your current aligners, the next 2 to 3 sets, your previous aligner as backup, the case, a travel toothbrush, chewies and your dentist’s contact info.
A big event
You can remove aligners for a few hours, but plan ahead, wear extra hours that day to compensate, and brush before reinserting. For photos they are nearly invisible, so most people leave them in.
Still have questions?
Your dentist and the Active Aligners team are here to help. Find a provider to book a consultation. All questions welcome.