Clear Aligners FAQs

Clear aligners are custom-made, removable trays that gradually shift your teeth into proper alignment through controlled, gentle pressure applied to specific teeth at each stage of treatment. You’ll receive a series of aligners that you change every 1-2 weeks, with each new set moving your teeth closer to their final desired position.

Clear aligner treatment typically takes 12-24 months for most cases, though mild crowding or spacing issues may be corrected in as little as 6-12 months. Complex orthodontic problems may require 18-36 months of treatment, depending on the severity of misalignment and patient compliance. Dr. Munguia at Dentist of Redlands will provide a more specific timeline after evaluating your individual case.

You must remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything other than plain water to prevent staining and damage to the aligners. Hot beverages can warp the plastic material, while sugary or acidic drinks can get trapped under the aligners and increase cavity risk. Dentist of Redlands recommends brushing your teeth before reinserting aligners and carrying a travel case to safely store them while eating.

Clear aligners can effectively treat mild to moderate crowding, spacing issues, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and rotated teeth in many patients. Severe orthodontic problems, significant bite issues, or cases requiring tooth extraction may still require traditional braces for optimal results. Dr. Munguia at Dentist of Redlands will evaluate whether clear aligners are the best treatment option for your specific orthodontic needs.

Most patients experience a slight lisp or speech change for the first few days to a week while adjusting to wearing aligners, but speech typically returns to normal quickly. Reading aloud or practicing speaking can help you adapt more quickly to wearing the aligners. The thin design of modern clear aligners minimizes speech interference, and patients at Dentist of Redlands rarely have long-term speech issues.