We ask for you to change your aligners every 2 weeks. You may want to write the dates that you are due to change aligners on the bags. Keep all your aligners in the original box and bring this box with all of your aligners in them to every visit.

PRO TIP: You can set phone reminders to know when to change your aligners!

Ideally, you will want to clean your aligners after every time you eat. Use a toothbrush and your usual toothpaste to clean your teeth thoroughly (if your teeth aren’t clean then your aligners will never be clean) Then, without rinsing your toothbrush, cup your aligner in your palm and brush the aligner on the inside and the outside. 5-10 strokes on each side should be enough. You can then floss or use your Waterpik to clean between your teeth effectively. Finally, you may want to use a colorless fluoridated rinse. If you do not have the ability to brush after a meal, be sure to rinse/swish with water or seltzer prior to placing the aligners back into your mouth. Brush your aligners as soon as possible when you are able.

PRO TIP: You may want to have a travel toothbrush and toothpaste with you when you are at school or work.

We have seen that using toothpaste directly on the aligner without foaming it up first or even using aligner/denture cleaners causes residue to collect on the aligner.

Once you have completed 2 weeks of wear of a set of aligners, brush them carefully with toothpaste and a toothbrush and let them air dry. After they are fully dry, place them in their original bag and have them ready to bring with you to your next visit. You may now switch to the next set of aligners. If you have completed 2 weeks of wear with the last aligner/s we have given you but waiting to come in for an appointment, keep wearing your last aligner/s full time. There may be times when you will have completed the aligners on one arch but not the other. Remember to continue to wear the last aligner on the arch you have completed full time or else your teeth will shift back to their original positions.

Please remove your aligners to eat. Also, please remove them to drink anything that has color or calories. You can drink clear, cold liquids such as water and plain sparkling water with them. It is not advised to drink warm, colored or sugary liquids with aligners as they will damage the aligners.

We have given you Chewies to bite on to allow the aligners to seat fully onto your teeth. While custom aligner treatment is highly effective, some patients experience difficulty in tracking well because their aligner do not fit appropriately on their teeth. We recommend Chewies to encourage the aligners to seat fully onto the teeth by eliminating gaps and spaces between your aligners and teeth. Chewies stimulate tooth mobility and allow teeth to move even more quickly.

Directions: Place the chewie between your back teeth on one side and bite down and keep biting for about 3 seconds. Then, systematically move it from one end of your mouth to the other performing the same exercise. At a minimum, you will want to repeat this at least twice a day. Nighttime use of Chewies just prior to going to sleep has been found to be the most helpful.  Chewies can be washed with mild soap and water after each use and reused several times before losing their elasticity. You will want to use Chewies even more when you first switch to a new set of aligners.  Although you will be able to reuse chewies, eventually they will need replacement and you can easily find them online. You will want to replacement them if they lose their suppleness as they can trap bacteria.

-Always keep your aligners in a aligner case when not in use. We are happy to give you extra cases to place in your backpack, purse, or have in the kitchen. Never wrap them in a paper towel or paper napkin as it is far too likely that they will get thrown away.

-Please be mindful that high heat will damage your aligners. Putting them in boiling water, dishwasher, leaving them in the car on a warm day or in the hot sun will certainly damage them.

-Keep your aligners out of the reach of pets – they LOVE chewing on them!

-Very infrequently, you may feel a sharper edge on your aligners which may cause discomfort. You may use a new emery board to smooth the edge. For added comfort, you may even follow with a new nail buffer.

CONTINUOUS WEAR: We want you to have a successful and efficient treatment and regular and consistent wear of aligners are necessary to achieve this goal! Regular non-wear of aligners will cause delays and extra costs when retreatment planning is necessary.

REGULAR VISITS: It is imperative to visit Dr. Capan as directed for follow-up visits to monitor your treatment

BRING ALL ALIGNERS: It is clear that of course you will have your current aligners with you at your appointment (you will be wearing them 22 hours/day and will always be with you). However, please bring any and all of your past aligners to every appointment as well. We may need to examine them in order to make sure that your treatment is progressing in the most ideal and efficient way possible

GENERAL DENTIST:  Remember that only your dentist or periodontist is the one responsible for cleanings and for checking for cavities and other conditions. Please make sure to keep up your appointments with your regular dentist.

REFINEMENTS:  Additional aligners are often necessary after you complete your initial set of aligners to perfect your teeth even more

MOUTHGUARDS: It’s imortant for us to keep your smile safe and healthy! Please let us know if you need a mouthguard for sports as they can be worn over the aligners