How Do Clear Aligners Work?

Clear aligners look simple. A transparent tray that fits over your teeth, worn for most of the day, changed every week or two. But the process behind how they actually move teeth is more considered than it looks. Understanding how they work makes it easier to understand why compliance matters, what to expect at each stage, and why the end result holds up when treatment is done properly.

Here is a plain-language explanation of how clear aligners work, from the biology of tooth movement to what happens on your last day of treatment.

How Clear Aligners Move Teeth

Teeth are not fixed rigidly in the jaw. Each tooth is suspended in its socket by the periodontal ligament, a network of elastic fibres connecting the tooth root to the surrounding bone. These fibres act as a cushion and allow teeth to respond to pressure.

When a clear aligner tray is placed over the teeth, it applies gentle, controlled force to specific teeth in specific directions. That force is transmitted through the periodontal ligament to the surrounding bone. In response to the sustained pressure, the bone on one side of the tooth gradually resorbs, while new bone forms on the other side to fill the space. This process, called bone remodelling, is what allows teeth to move through what appears to be solid jaw bone.

Each aligner tray is designed to move teeth by a small, planned increment, typically around 0.25mm per tray. The movement is gradual enough to be safe and comfortable, but consistent enough to achieve meaningful change over the course of treatment.

When one tray has achieved its planned movement, you progress to the next tray in the series, which picks up where the previous one left off. Repeat this process across the full series of trays and you arrive at the planned end position.

The Treatment Process Step by Step

Step 1: Impressions or 3D Scan

Treatment begins with capturing an accurate record of your teeth. With Jawology, you can do this at home using an at-home impression kit, or visit a partner clinic for a 3D intraoral scan for a more detailed digital record. The accuracy of this first step directly affects how well every aligner in the series fits.

Step 2: Case Assessment

Your impressions or scan are reviewed by an Australian-registered dental professional. They assess whether your case is appropriate for clear aligner treatment, and what movements are needed to achieve the planned outcome.

Step 3: 3D Treatment Plan

Using specialist software, a digital simulation of your treatment is created. This shows the planned movement of each tooth at each stage, culminating in the final projected result. You can see exactly how your teeth will move before any aligners are made.

Step 4: Aligner Manufacturing

Once the treatment plan is approved, your full set of custom aligners is manufactured. Each tray in the series is slightly different, representing one stage of the planned movement. Most Jawology patients receive their aligners within 3 to 4 weeks of approving their treatment plan.

Step 5: Wearing Your Aligners

You wear each aligner set for the prescribed duration, typically 1 to 2 weeks, for 20 to 22 hours per day. You remove them for eating, drinking anything other than water, and cleaning your teeth. You then progress to the next set in the series.

Step 6: Remote Monitoring

Throughout treatment, Jawology's DentalMonitoring ScanBox app allows the clinical team to track your progress remotely. Regular scan submissions mean any tracking issues or concerns can be identified and addressed early without requiring a clinic visit.

Step 7: Treatment Completion

Once you have completed your final aligner set and the dental team confirms the planned outcome has been achieved, your active treatment is complete. You then move into retention.

What Clear Aligners Can Treat

Clear aligners are effective for a wide range of mild to moderate dental concerns:

• Crowding: teeth that are overlapping, rotated or bunched together due to insufficient space in the jaw
• Spacing: gaps between teeth caused by missing teeth, naturally smaller teeth or jaw size
• Overbite: upper teeth overlapping the lower teeth excessively when biting
• Underbite: lower teeth sitting in front of upper teeth when biting
• Crossbite: upper and lower teeth misaligned side to side
• Open bite: upper and lower teeth not making contact when the mouth is closed

Cases that are severe, involve significant skeletal discrepancies, or require complex in-person management are better suited to clinic-based treatment. A case assessment confirms which category your case falls into.

What to Expect While Wearing Them

Comfort

Clear aligners are generally comfortable to wear. The most noticeable sensation is mild pressure when you first switch to a new tray, as the aligner begins to apply force to move teeth to the next planned position. This typically settles within 24 to 48 hours. It is a sign the aligners are working, not a sign something is wrong.

Speech

Most people adapt to speaking with aligners in within a few days. There may be a slight lisp initially as the tongue adjusts to the presence of the trays. This resolves quickly for most wearers.

Eating and Drinking

Always remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water. Food and drink trapped under the aligner can cause staining and contribute to tooth decay. Remove, eat, clean your teeth, then replace the aligners.

Cleaning

Rinse your aligners with cool water when you remove them and brush gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap. Do not use toothpaste on the aligners as it can scratch the surface. Clean your teeth before putting aligners back in.

After Treatment: Retainers

Once active treatment is complete, retainers are needed to hold the teeth in their new position. Without retention, the periodontal fibres that were stretched during treatment will gradually pull the teeth back toward their original position. This is called relapse and it happens to virtually everyone who does not wear retainers consistently after treatment.

Most people wear their retainer nightly on an ongoing basis. The first 6 to 12 months after treatment are particularly important for retention as the surrounding bone is still consolidating around the new tooth positions.

Jawology's custom clear retainers are available from $149 per set, made from Zendura-FLX dental-grade material.

Frequently Asked Questions