YOUR Clear Aligners

When your clear aligners are fitted…

• Your fitting appointment will take between 45 minutes to an hour. During this appointment, the clinicians will fit any attachments as required (attachments are small tooth coloured bumps bonded onto your teeth that help the aligners guide your teeth into position), issue you your first few pairs of aligners (you will typically receive 3-5 sets of aligners at a time that will be worn for a prescribed period as directed, typically 1-2 weeks per pair) and discuss how to maintain cleanliness of your aligners and teeth during the course of your treatment.
• You will need to remove your aligners to brush your teeth, eat and consume any coloured liquids (coffee, tea, soft drink, juice). You are able to drink water with your aligners in.
• You will be provided a case to keep your aligners safe when they are not being worn. It is important to store the aligners safely so they are not misplaced or thrown away accidentally.
• At each of your appointments, your clinician will advise when you should return for your next appointment. It is important to keep your appointments as scheduled to ensure your treatment time stays on track.

After your clear aligners are issued…

• It may take a few days to adjust to wearing your aligners. Talking may feel different at first. Allow yourself a week to settle into wearing these.
• Whilst your aligners are removeable, fulltime wear is crucial to achieving a successful treatment result. Your aligners should be worn all the time, except for when you are eating, drinking liquids besides water and cleaning your teeth.
• You may find your teeth are tender for the first few days after you begin wearing your aligners, and also after you swap to a new pair of aligners. You can take over the counter analgesics such as Nurofen or Panadol to manage any discomfort during this time.
• Do not run your aligners under warm/hot water and do not consume hot drinks with your aligners in as this can cause them to warp or distort.
• If you lose or break an aligner, contact our surgery to discuss how this can be managed.