FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Orthodontic Aligners

You should wear each aligner for 20 to 22 hours a day during your treatment for best results and a timely outcome.

No, you can usually eat what you want while in treatment because the aligners are removed when eating or drinking. Thus, there’s no need to refrain from your favourite foods and drinks. However, it’s recommended that you floss and brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners to maintain proper oral hygiene.

Except for cool water, we recommend that you don’t drink while wearing the aligners. This is to avoid cavities and stains forming on your teeth, or warping your aligners with hot beverages.

You should remove your aligners to consume anything except for water. Leaving aligners on while drinking may stain them and you may risk developing tooth decay while consuming fluids with sugar in them.

We don’t encourage smoking while wearing aligners because it’s possible for them to become discoloured.

You should not chew gum while wearing your aligners as the gum may stick to the aligners. We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks, including chewing gum.

It’s very unlikely that your aligners will ever fall out, no matter what you’re doing at the time (whether it’s sleeping, talking or laughing). Aligners are designed to fit firmly on the teeth so this should not be a cause for concern.

Similar to other orthodontic treatments, the aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any mis-articulation or minor speech impediment caused by the aligners should disappear.

It’s important that you follow the treatment plan developed by us to ensure the best outcome. We will determine the recommended treatment duration for you depending on several considerations, including the spacing between your teeth and the need for retention.

We will plan and design the aligner treatment based on your requirement. In case, if you are relocating, then we deliver all the aligner at once and we assist you online and if required we refer you to our fellow orthodontist all over the globe.

The aligners are made of non-toxic, medical-grade plastic and can be worn during pregnancy. If you’re concerned, please consult us for more information.

While Aligner treatment may move your teeth without the pain and anxiety of other straightening methods, some people might experience temporary, minor discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure. It's a sign that the aligners are sequentially moving your teeth to their final positions. This discomfort usually goes away a couple of days after you insert the new aligner in the series.

If you notice a sharp pain or have significant discomfort, contact us. We advise and prescribe you pain killers if required.. Please feel free to contact us..

Aligner treatment is contraindicated in patients with active periodontal disease. However, if you have periodontal (gum) disease, then we would not suggest you aligner treatment after diagnosing in the initial appointment.

In rare instances, some patients may be allergic to the aligner material. If this occurs, discontinue use and Speak to us immediately.

In rare instances, patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), a genetic disorder, may experience rapid local swelling of tissues including the larynx. This may be triggered by mild stimuli including dental procedures. If this occurs, discontinue use and speak to us immediately.

It’s recommended to visit us regularly to make sure your treatment plan is on track. If you need additional aligners due to travel periods, you can inform us well in advance so that we make arrangement according to your needs.

If required, we will fully remove the stained attachments and replace them.

Depending on your specific treatment, some of the movements may require either "attachments" or "ridges" to help the aligner grip the teeth. These bumps or wells are where the aligner grips the attachment that we place on your teeth. The attachments are actually small pieces of composite that we fix on to your teeth that are then gripped by bumps on your aligners. The ridges are slim indentations in your aligners. We will use one or both of these features to achieve the desired movement.

Aligners are virtually invisible and discreet, so most people will not even notice that you’re wearing them.