This is a common question we’re asked by dentists: How long do you need to wear aligners for? In this video, we explain how dentists should think about this in practice.

There are two key elements to this. So number one is for two weeks. We ask for two weeks because the research tells us that you need two weeks of steady consistent force to promote aligner movement and tooth movement. At least with the degrees of movement we’re looking for, two weeks is the sweet spot.

The other element of that is the length of time per day. So really we need to be as close as full time wear as possible.

So our advice is at least twenty two hours per day. The best way to think about moving your teeth is you’re effectively pushing a ball up a hill.

Right? So it’s got to be steady, consistent force. And if you were to let go of that ball, it’s going to come crashing back down. And it will come down a lot faster than it would be to go up.

And what you don’t want to be doing is if you were to wear your aligners, for example, ten hours per day, you’re kind of rocking your teeth. You’re pushing them, letting them come back, pushing them, letting them come back. And that can start to have a bit of an impact on your dental health. So what we ask for and what we always guide is slow, steady, consistent force on the teeth.

So by wearing them as close to full time as possible, you’ll get the best results you can.