Most people arrive at a first aligner appointment with one question: how quickly will anyone notice? The honest answer is that visible change usually begins somewhere between week four and week eight, and it depends on where your teeth are starting from. Understanding the sequence makes the wait considerably easier.
Your first fitting
The fitting appointment takes around forty minutes. We check the aligners seat cleanly against every tooth, place any small composite attachments the plan calls for, and show you how to insert and remove the trays without stressing the edges.
- Attachments are shaped from tooth-coloured composite and removed at the end of treatment.
- Aligners are worn 20–22 hours a day, out only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing.
- Each set is worn for the number of days written on your plan, usually seven to ten.
Weeks one to four
Expect pressure rather than pain for the first two or three days of each new tray, and a slight lisp that settles within a week. Speech adapts faster than most patients anticipate, and by the second set the trays feel routine.
Managing the first few days
Change to a new set in the evening so the firmest pressure passes while you sleep. Chewie-style seaters help the trays settle fully, which keeps treatment on schedule.
- Rinse each tray with cool water every time it comes out.
- Keep a case in your bag — napkins are how aligners get thrown away.
- Brush before reinserting, or rinse thoroughly if you are out.
The patients who finish on time are almost always the ones who kept wear time consistent in the first month.
Dr Rachel Moore, Principal Dentist
Your first review
We review progress at around six weeks. That appointment compares tooth position against the plan, checks attachments are intact, and confirms the remaining trays still fit the projection. Small deviations are normal and easily corrected.
Is clear aligner treatment right for you?A consultation includes a clinical assessment, a digital scan and a written treatment plan with fees before you commit to anything.
Caring for aligners day to day
Rinse trays with cool water each time they come out, brush them gently once a day, and keep them in their case when they are not in your mouth. Hot water distorts the plastic, so avoid dishwashers and boiling water entirely.
Whitening, bonding or any cosmetic finishing work is normally planned after alignment, once the teeth have settled into their final positions. If you would like to talk it through, book a free consultation.