Clear aligner FAQs

Clear aligners are removable plastic trays, each shaped slightly differently, that move teeth in small steps. You wear each tray for the time your plan sets, then move to the next. They are prescription devices: a dentist or orthodontist plans and supervises the treatment, even when you wear the trays at home. The stages are in how at-home aligner treatment works.

With the right case, they can straighten crowded teeth, close mild gaps and correct many bite problems. They cannot reposition an adult's jaws, replace a missing tooth, move a dental implant, or treat decay, gum disease or tooth color. An overbite can come from where the teeth sit, from the jaws, or both, and an in-person assessment works out which. See what clear aligners can and cannot fix.

They can, in the right case, but teeth do not always follow the computer plan. In a 2020 study of 38 adults who wore Invisalign as instructed, teeth on average reached about half of the movement planned for them, which is why further trays, called refinements, are common. See refinement aligners.

It depends first on what your teeth and bite need. Braces can treat a wider range of problems, including more complex bite problems; aligners are much harder to see but suit a narrower range, typically light to moderate alignment issues, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). The second question is whether you will keep a removable tray in all day. An orthodontist's assessment answers the first. See clear aligners and braces.

The FDA says it has not authorized aligners sold directly to consumers without a prescription and supervision by a licensed dental professional, and the AAO advises an in-person examination and appropriate X-rays before treatment starts. For a bite problem, or a mouth with crowns, implants or gum disease, in-person care is the safer fit. See Invisalign and at-home aligners.

No. Adults use them too, though the AAO says adult teeth can take longer to move than a teenager's. For children, the AAO recommends a check with an orthodontist by age 7; a check is not the same as starting treatment. See aligners and braces for children and teenagers.

Start with how you want to be treated: in a dental office, remotely with photo check-ins, or a mix. Then compare what each price includes, who the responsible clinician is, and how you reach them. The find a provider questions shortlist providers that match your preferences; they do not assess whether treatment suits your teeth. You can also compare providers side by side.

Straightening is worth it when the change matters enough to you to justify the cost, months of near-constant wear and retainers for life, and when a dentist or orthodontist who has examined you says the plan fits the problem. See is teeth straightening worth it?.

The AAO advises an in-person examination and appropriate X-rays before orthodontic treatment, and said so again after SmileDirectClub closed in December 2023. The FDA lists loosening of existing crowns, fillings or implants among the risks of aligners, which is one reason the examination matters. Some remote prices leave it out, so ask whether one is included. See how at-home aligner treatment works.

No. A scan or a home impression kit records the teeth so trays can be made. An examination is a dentist or orthodontist checking teeth, gums and bite, with X-rays where needed. A usable mold tells the lab it can make trays; it does not tell you that treatment is suitable. If an impression is inaccurate, trays made from it may not fit, so follow the kit instructions exactly. See how at-home aligner treatment works.

The licensed dentist or orthodontist who prescribes your aligners, even when a company handles the orders and shipping. Before you agree to a plan, ask for their name and state license and how to reach them if a tray stops fitting. You can check a dentist's license with your state dental board. See how at-home aligner treatment works.

Possibly. Decay or gum problems found at an examination need treating before aligners, at extra cost, and a remote price usually excludes both the exam and that work. See what clear aligners cost.

A provider that turns you down should not make trays. Whether you get back what you paid for an impression kit or scan depends on its terms: kits on the sites we checked cost $29 to $29.99 when sold separately. Ask whether the kit fee is refunded if you are turned down, and whether a second kit is free if the first impressions cannot be used. See what clear aligners cost.

From under $1,000 to well over $5,000, depending mostly on how you are treated. Remote companies published $1,195 to $1,399 for both arches when we checked on October 22, 2026, leaving out sale-only prices; Invisalign's own examples show practice fees of $5,490 to $7,000. Current prices are on each provider review and in what clear aligners cost.

It varies, so check before comparing two prices. A dental-office fee usually includes an examination, X-rays where needed, visits during treatment and the dentist's time if something goes wrong. A remote price mostly covers the aligners and an online review of your records. Ask about each of these: the impression kit or scan, every aligner, refinements, retainers and how many sets, and an in-person exam. See what clear aligners cost.

Usually. PearlsWhite, for example, listed $799 to $899 for one arch against $1,199 to $1,399 for both on October 22, 2026. One arch only works if all the teeth you want to move are on that arch and the bite still fits afterward, which the clinician planning your treatment decides. See what clear aligners cost.

Some do, but a results guarantee is a contract term, not a clinical promise. Read how success is defined: NewSmile, for example, counts 85% alignment with the preview as success, so a company may treat a case as finished once that figure is reached. Ask what is refunded if you are not suitable or stop partway. See refinement aligners.

Sometimes. Invisalign says many dental plans cover its treatment the same way they cover braces. IRS Publication 502 lists braces as a qualifying dental expense for FSA and HSA funds and excludes whitening. Ask your insurer, in writing, whether adult orthodontics and clear aligners are covered, the lifetime maximum, and whether they pay a remote company. See what clear aligners cost.

Many providers offer it, but monthly payments are credit, so compare the total with the cash price. Motto, for example, advertised about $81 a month for 60 months on its $2,999 price through CareCredit: about $4,860 in all, roughly $1,860 more than paying up front. A 0% plan costs the same as cash only if the payments add up to the cash price. Check the interest rate, any fees, and what happens to the agreement if treatment stops. See what clear aligners cost.

That depends on the provider's terms, so ask before you pay what you get back at each stage: the impression kit or scan, aligners you have not worn, and what happens to any payment plan. A payment plan can also outlast the aligners. See what clear aligners cost.

Invisalign tells its patients 20 to 22 hours a day, and the AAO says 20 to 22 hours a day or as prescribed. Those hours include the time you sleep. At 22 hours, about 2 hours a day remain for eating, drinking and brushing. Night-only plans ask for a block of about 8 to 10 hours, and there is no good evidence yet that they move teeth as reliably; see nighttime aligners.

Yes. Take the trays out for meals and put them straight into their case, not a napkin or a pocket. Brush before they go back in whenever you can; if you cannot, rinse your mouth and the trays with water and brush at the next chance. See eating and drinking with clear aligners.

Plain water is the only drink the AAO says to have with trays in. Take them out for coffee, tea, soda, juice, milk and sparkling or flavored water: the tray holds the drink against your teeth, and heat can warp the plastic. A drink finished in one sitting with the trays out does less harm than the same drink sipped slowly with them in.

Take them out. Wine, beer and other alcohol can stain, and many are acidic or sugary. Rinse or brush before the trays go back in. Do not clean the trays with alcohol-based products either; the AAO warns against them.

Not in what you eat, but in when. The AAO says nothing is off-limits, as long as the trays come out to eat and your teeth are clean before they go back in. At first you may prefer foods that need little chewing, such as soup or mashed potatoes. Fewer, shorter breaks make the daily hours easier to reach.

A hard case with room for both trays, and a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and floss so you can clean your teeth before the trays go back in. Never wrap a tray in a napkin. A removal tool, a spare case and chewies are optional; chewies are worth using mainly if your clinician or aligner system recommends them. See aligner cases, removal tools, and chewies.

For contact sports, the trays come out and a mouthguard goes in. See aligners and braces for children and teenagers.

Speech can be affected when you start, and it usually settles within a few days. See Invisalign and at-home aligners.

Some soreness for the first few days of each new tray is normal. Contact the clinician responsible for your plan if pain does not settle, if your gums are very red or swollen, if a tray will not sit fully on your teeth, or if a tooth feels newly loose. More in common clear aligner mistakes.

Invisalign's instructions say teeth may feel slightly loose for a while during treatment. A tray that does not fit fully, or a tooth that feels newly loose, is different: tell the clinician before you change trays. How loose a tray feels is a poor guide to whether the teeth have finished that step, so do not move on early. See common clear aligner mistakes.

Aligner edges and attachments can irritate the cheeks, lips or gums. Contact the clinician who prescribed the trays rather than cutting a tray yourself. See clear aligners and braces.

Chewies are soft pieces you bite on to help a tray fit fully onto the teeth; Invisalign sells them as seaters. They are optional and worth using mainly if your clinician or aligner system recommends them. If a tray still does not fit after using them as directed, contact the clinician. See aligner cases, removal tools and chewies.

Invisalign's usual instruction is a soft brush and lukewarm water every day; the AAO's advice for clear plastic retainers is a soft brush, cool water and mild soap. Keep them away from hot water, the dishwasher, bleach and alcohol-based products. Follow the instructions for your own aligners first. See how to clean clear aligners.

Those soaks are not in the published cleaning instructions we checked, so avoid them unless your clinician tells you otherwise. If you want a soak, use a product made for the job; formats and yearly costs are in aligner and retainer cleaners.

Usually food or plaque left on the teeth or the trays, or a skipped daily clean. Brush your teeth before the trays go back in, clean them every day and add a soak. If a bad taste or sore gums persist, see your dentist.

An ordinary fluoride toothpaste you are happy to use several times a day; you do not need one marketed for aligners. Look for the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal. Do not scrub the trays with whitening or gritty paste unless your instructions allow it. See toothpaste with clear aligners.

No. The ADA says manual and powered brushes can both clean thoroughly: use soft bristles, brush for two minutes twice a day, and replace the brush or head every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles fray. Subscriptions that post replacement heads are compared in toothbrush subscription services.

Ask the dentist responsible for your aligners before you put whitening gel into them. Whitening is a separate treatment, and whether to whiten while attachments are on or after they come off is part of the treatment order your dentist plans. See whitening your teeth.

The AAO says mild crowding or spacing can often be treated in eight to 12 months, while complex bite problems may take a couple of years. Add several weeks at the start for records and manufacture. See how long clear aligner treatment takes.

Usually some weeks. Aligners are not normally made on site: the AAO says delivery from the manufacturer can take 4 to 6 weeks, and that with scans, attachments and learning the routine, aligners can take as long as braces overall. Remote companies set their own timescales, so ask. See how long clear aligner treatment takes.

Wearing the trays less than prescribed is the most common reason: the AAO says inconsistent wear can lengthen treatment or compromise the result. A lost aligner can set treatment back, the AAO says keeping appointments helps keep a plan on schedule, and refinements add time. See mistakes that affect clear aligner treatment.

Some companies sell them, usually for a little more and over a longer period: Smileie and AlignerCo both listed nighttime treatment at 6 to 8 months against 4 to 6 months for daytime wear. Whether night-only wear moves teeth as well as full-time wear is unproven. See nighttime aligners.

It depends on the provider. Orthodontist-led treatment uses office visits, and the AAO says some offices add remote monitoring that can reduce in-person appointments. CandidPro says check-ins are every 1 to 2 weeks, often virtual. Remote companies use photos through an app or portal; NewSmile, for example, asks for progress photos every two weeks. Ask who reviews them and how fast they reply. See Invisalign and at-home aligners.

Not entirely. Photos let a clinician see whether trays appear to fit fully and whether teeth look on track. They do not show roots, bone or gum health, so keep your regular dental checkups throughout. See how at-home aligner treatment works.

On the dates your clinician sets, not when a tray starts to feel loose. Switching early, or skipping a tray because a later one seems to fit, changes the plan without the person who prescribed it. Put every change date in your calendar at the start. See mistakes that affect clear aligner treatment.

Remote providers usually offer customer service and clinical support, and they do different jobs. Customer service handles orders, shipping, payments and account questions. A tray that does not fit fully, pain that is getting worse, a tooth that feels newly loose, a broken filling or crown, or teeth that look off track need the prescribing dentist or orthodontist. See how at-home aligner treatment works.

A further set of aligners, made because the teeth have not followed the planned movement closely enough. You are still in active treatment; a retainer comes later. Refinements are common, and need new records and a new plan from the clinician. They can happen partway through, when trays stop fitting, or after the last planned tray. See refinement aligners.

It depends on your agreement. On October 22, 2026, Smileie said extra aligners are free where clinically appropriate if you follow its conditions, such as uploading progress photos; AlignerCo charged $250, requested within 2 to 3 weeks of finishing; NewSmile's refund policy was unclear. At an orthodontist's office, ask whether further aligners and the visits they need are included in your fee, and for how long. "Free refinements" usually depends on proving you followed the instructions, so keep your progress photos. See refinement aligners.

Ask the clinician before the old series ends: whether to keep wearing your current or last tray full time, for how many hours, and what to do if it stops fitting. Ask too how long the new trays will take, how many more trays and how much longer they expect, and whether this is included in your fee. See refinement aligners.

They can. The AAO says you will likely need a retainer for life, though the hours a day can drop over time. Your orthodontist sets the schedule. See care after aligner treatment.

There are three common kinds: a clear removable tray, a Hawley retainer (acrylic with a metal wire), and a fixed wire bonded behind the front teeth. Your orthodontist advises which suits you. Ask before your last appointment which one, and how many sets, your fee includes. See care after aligner treatment.

The first set is often included in the treatment fee; replacements are usually extra, and many insurance plans treat retainers as part of the original fee. Published examples on October 22, 2026 ranged from $125 a set by mail from AlignerCo to $250 to $300 per arch at orthodontic offices. A mail-order replacement is made from impressions you take at home, without an orthodontist checking the fit. See care after aligner treatment.

Contact your orthodontist promptly: every day without it is a day teeth can move. If it will not go on, do not force it; the orthodontist may adjust or remake it. Do not go back to an old aligner tray without their advice. See care after aligner treatment.

Stop and contact the clinician before changing trays or forcing it. A warped tray, from hot water or a hot car, may no longer fit; if the current tray fits poorly after missed wear, the teeth may be behind the plan. Do not switch early to catch up. See mistakes that affect clear aligner treatment.

Contact the clinician or provider responsible the same day; the AAO advises contacting your orthodontist right away, and says a lost aligner may extend treatment. Tell them which tray is missing, wear the tray they tell you to while a replacement is arranged, and ask what a replacement costs. Do not keep wearing a tray that is sharp, painful or badly distorted. See mistakes that affect clear aligner treatment.

Tell the clinician who placed it. Attachments are small tooth-colored bumps that help the trays grip, and Invisalign's instructions say a missing attachment that is not replaced can affect treatment time or the result. See refinement aligners.

Most aligner problems are uncomfortable rather than dangerous; tell your orthodontist about a lost, cracked or distorted aligner, or sore spots. The AAO says to call 911 or seek emergency care for heavy or continuous bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a suspected broken jaw, a permanent tooth knocked out or badly moved, or sudden severe pain with facial swelling, fever or signs of infection.

Do not start new trays without a clinician's advice. When SmileDirectClub closed, the AAO advised its patients to book an in-person examination with an orthodontist and take their records and treatment history. Keep your order confirmation, payment records and messages; your state attorney general will usually take a consumer complaint. Our SmileDirectClub and Byte pages show what happened in two closures.

Start with the provider or office, and put it in writing. For an unresolved problem with care, see another dentist or orthodontist who can examine you, and you can check a dentist's license with your state dental board. If a company stops replying, your state attorney general will usually take a consumer complaint. Do not try to fix a poor result by ordering aligners from a company that has not examined you.

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