Straightening teeth is no longer something that happens only in your teens. A significant share of clear aligner patients are adults — often people whose teeth shifted years after braces, or who never had orthodontic treatment at all.
How clear aligners work
Treatment uses a series of custom-made transparent trays. Each one moves your teeth a small, planned distance; you switch to the next set every one to two weeks. The trays are removable, so you take them out to eat and to brush.
That last point matters more than it sounds. Aligners only work while they are in your mouth — typically 20 to 22 hours a day. Patients who treat them as optional see the timeline stretch.
What they handle well — and what they don’t
Clear aligners are a good fit for crowding, spacing, and many bite concerns. More complex skeletal problems, severely rotated teeth or cases needing significant vertical movement may still be better served by conventional braces.
This is why the evaluation comes first. We assess your teeth, bite and the movements required, then tell you honestly whether aligners will achieve what you want.
Living with them
Most people adapt within a week. Expect mild pressure for a day or two after each new tray — that pressure is the treatment working. A slight lisp in the first days is common and passes.
Practical notes: only water while wearing them, brush before putting them back in, and keep the case with you. Trays wrapped in a napkin at a restaurant get thrown away more often than you would think.
After treatment
Teeth move throughout life. Retainers are not an optional extra at the end — they are what keeps the result. We go through the retention plan before treatment starts, so there are no surprises.
If you are wondering whether clear aligners suit your case, an evaluation at our Dover office will answer it. Call 973-361-6200 or book through the contact form.