Short answer: In most treatments, clear aligners are changed for a new one every 7 to 14 days. The interval is set by your clinician based on the type of treatment, how complex the tooth movements are and how consistently you wear your aligners. Changing to the next aligner earlier than planned is not recommended.
How is the change interval decided?
- Type of planned movement: A longer interval may be chosen for more complex movements such as root movement and rotation.
- Wear routine: If aligners aren't worn 20–22 hours a day, the teeth may not keep up with the plan.
- Age and biological response: The way bone and tissues respond varies from person to person.
- Check-up findings: Your clinician may adjust the interval after seeing how the aligners fit at a check-up.
How many aligners will you use in total?
The number of aligners is calculated from the distance between the starting and target positions of the teeth in the digital plan. Mild corrections may need fewer aligners, while bite problems may need more. Additional refinement sets may also be made at the end of the plan. For an overview of treatment time, take a look at our article how long does orthodontic treatment take.
What to keep in mind when switching to a new aligner
- Put in the new aligner preferably in the evening.
- Make sure the aligner is fully seated on your teeth; use an aligner chewie if needed.
- Don't throw away the previous aligner; keep it in its case.
- Note down the aligner number or log it in the app.
Why keep your old aligners?
If a new aligner is lost or broken, your clinician will decide which aligner to wear until a replacement arrives; in that case the previous aligner is usually worn temporarily. For situations that can come up while travelling, read our page on clear aligners while travelling.
If an aligner doesn't fit
If there are gaps at the edges of the new aligner or it doesn't seat on your teeth, don't move on to the next aligner. Keep wearing the current one and let the clinic know. This is most often linked to reduced wear time, and your clinician can adjust the interval.
Quick answers
Will treatment be shorter if I change aligners early?
No. Moving to a new aligner before the teeth have caught up with the plan can stop the aligner from fitting and make treatment longer.
Do I need to visit the clinic to change aligners?
Aligners are usually given in several sets; you change them at home. Your clinician decides how often you need check-ups.
How often are check-ups?
It depends on the stage of treatment, but check-ups are usually planned every few weeks.
How do you find out what suits you?
The information here is general; the right plan for you is decided through an oral examination, a digital scan and a clinical assessment. At our clinic in Oran, Çankaya, Ankara, we go through these topics and your questions during your first orthodontic examination. If you would like to see the treatment steps in advance, take a look at our clear aligner treatment process page.
