Feel free to ask ASK Dr BAK AI about your dental questions. Click on the button “ASK Dr BAK AI”

Can Aligners Fix Teeth That Have Shifted After Orthodontic Treatment?

It can be discouraging to see your teeth shifting after you’ve already completed braces or clear aligner treatment. Whether it’s been a few months or several years since your original orthodontic care, this kind of movement is known as orthodontic relapse—and it’s more common than you think. Yes, clear aligners are an excellent solution for teeth that have shifted, especially after previous orthodontic treatment. They provide a discreet and effective way to move your teeth back into alignment—without starting from scratch.

Why Teeth Shift After Treatment

There are several reasons why teeth may shift following braces or aligner therapy:

Not wearing your retainer as prescribed
Natural aging and jaw growth
Tooth loss, which causes adjacent teeth to move
Daily wear and tear from biting, chewing, or grinding
Subtle shifts due to gum recession or bone changes

Even small changes in tooth position can lead to noticeable crowding, gaps, or bite issues—especially in the front teeth.

How Aligners Correct Post-Treatment Tooth Movement

Clear aligners like Invisalign work by applying targeted pressure to gradually move teeth back into their ideal positions. This retreatment process includes:

A digital 3D scan of your current tooth alignment
A custom treatment plan tailored to your specific relapse
A series of clear aligners, each worn for 1–2 weeks
Optional attachments or IPR for more precise control
A long-term retention plan to lock in results

For most relapse cases, aligner treatment is shorter and more focused than initial orthodontic care.

What to Expect

Treatment Duration: 3 to 9 months for most relapse cases
Wear Time: 20–22 hours per day
Monitoring: Periodic check-ins to track progress
Post-Treatment: Retainers worn nightly to maintain alignment

Aligners are ideal for correcting:

Mild to moderate crowding
Small gaps that have reopened
Misalignment in one or both arches
Rotations or flare-outs of front teeth

Preventing Future Relapse

After aligner retreatment, consistent retainer use is essential. Dr. Bak recommends:

Wearing your retainers nightly for life
Replacing retainers as needed to maintain a proper fit
Scheduling periodic checkups to monitor alignment stability

Skipping retainers after aligner retreatment can result in repeat shifting—and another round of treatment.

Dr. Bak’s Approach to Relapse Correction

With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Bak Nguyen specializes in efficient, precise aligner retreatment for patients who’ve experienced orthodontic relapse. His use of advanced 3D planning ensures your smile not only looks great again—but stays that way long term.

Book a free virtual consultation to learn more about your case, its treatment time and cost with Dr Bak Nguyen (the real one).

Les aligneurs peuvent être utilisés pour traiter certains cas de sous-plomb, en particulier si le problème est lié à la position des dents plutôt qu'à l'os de la mâchoire. Dans ces cas, les aligneu

Yes, aligners can move teeth vertically, but this is generally more challenging than moving teeth horizontally. Vertical movements might be slower and may require additional tools such as attachments to ensure the teeth move as planned. The aligners

Oui, les aligneurs peuvent être efficaces pour traiter une occlusion croisée, en particulier lorsque le problème concerne le positionnement des dents plutôt que l'os de la mâchoire. Les aligneurs fonctionnent en appliq

What are aligners made of - Invisalign plastic material - Clear correct - Straumann - BPA-free aligners - Medical-grade plastic in clear aligners - Clear aligners comfort - Invisalign durability - Biocompatible orthodontic plastic - Orthodontist Montreal - Clear braces material -Aligner composition

Can Aligners Fix Teeth That Have Shifted?