Nighttime Clear Aligners: Are They Any Good?

Have you ever thought about trying nighttime clear aligners for your orthodontics cases? There are countless possible ways to use clear aligners, but do nighttime clear aligners really work? We’ve outlined some of the key things you need to know about nighttime clear aligners as follows.
What are Nighttime Clear Aligners?
Nighttime clear aligners are a type of aligner used only during the nighttime hours, meaning they provide intermittent force to the teeth. They can be much more practical options for patients, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they work well.
Can Nighttime Clear Aligners Work for Orthodontics Patients?
When nighttime clear aligners first became popular, there was very little data available on whether these can actually work. Unfortunately, when attempting to move or realign the teeth, inflammatory responses can occur. Intermittent forces (i.e., non continual pressure) can make this feel even more uncomfortable.
As such, on the whole, we generally recommend going for full-time aligners rather than nighttime aligners to reduce the discomfort experienced by the patient and to lessen the amount of pressure and force applied to the teeth (which can reduce the risk of complications).
Overall, the most effective approach to moving teeth is to take a very slow and gradual approach. Try to use weekly aligners with marginal movements (0.2 to 0.25 movements are usually effective) instead of going for intermittent forces instead.