HOW OFTEN WILL I HAVE TO CHANGE MY ALIGNERS?
HOW OFTEN WILL I HAVE TO CHANGE MY ALIGNERS?
TIME From DIGITAL ORTHODONTICS - Solo Edition by Dr. Bak Nguyen
Usually, you will be wearing the same aligner for 1 to 2 weeks before moving on to the next. This is a guideline, not a rule. Some people will have to keep their aligners longer, sometimes up to 4, even 5 weeks before changing to the next set. This all comes down to results.
If your teeth are following, your attending will confirm and move you to the next set. If not, you will have to keep that set of aligners until your teeth will have followed.
Each attending has their own protocol to follow up with you. Please make sure to follow that protocol and to keep the line of communication between you and your attending.
Personally, I ask my patients to send me a picture of their teeth with the aligners on, every week through teledentistry means. I then evaluate the fitting of the aligners and will instruct them on the next action. This is my preference, it is not a standard of care, and not all attending will be doing the same. Please discuss the protocol of treatment with your attending at your initial consultation.
We are talking about changing your aligners every 1 to 2 weeks, that is considering that you are wearing them 20-22 hours a day!