OK, so theoretically since the trays only move your teeth for the first few days...

[luesur]

and the rest of the time your teeth aren't moving, is it quite as necessary to get the full 20-22 hours in after your teeth have stopped moving?

[Sunny]

Yes ... the longer the better, due to the way teeth move. As teeth move, the bone has to break down and rebuild in your jaw. You need to allow time for this, or you risk damaging the root of your teeth, or your jaw bone. If teeth are left our of aligners for too long, they will move back to where they were, which means the new bone building will be damaged and begin to break down again.

A load of research and science went into working out what was best for the health of teeth, gums, bones etc.

[myhollywoodsmile]

Hmmm, I lost my aligners for 4.5 hours this afternoon. Found them now but I think I'd better do some extra days with this set.

[Rosieee]

Hmmm, I lost my aligners for 4.5 hours this afternoon. Found them now but I think I'd better do some extra days with this set.

Whaaaaaat - a few extra days!? I leave mine out for atleast 5+ hours a day every day and my teeth are tracking perfectly (had invisaligns for nearly a year now).

[myhollywoodsmile]

Well, a few extra hours maybe!! I was just trying to sound diligent Truth is that this is my last upper set before refinements so I know I'll be wearing it for weeks and weeks anyway. Can I ask, do you keep yours out 5 hours at a time or in chunks through the day? I'm intrigued as to how much you actually have to wear these things compared to the 22 hours they say.

[Rosieee]

Well, a few extra hours maybe!! I was just trying to sound diligent Truth is that this is my last upper set before refinements so I know I'll be wearing it for weeks and weeks anyway. Can I ask, do you keep yours out 5 hours at a time or in chunks through the day? I'm intrigued as to how much you actually have to wear these things compared to the 22 hours they say.

Ok so here I will be very truthful and hope no one will tell me off haha! I wear my aligners for about 16 hours a day average...some days I'm better and some days I'm worse.

My week days go like this:

7.00am - wake up take out my aligners and soak them in Polident while I get ready for work
8.00am - brush, floss and mouthwash and put aligners back in
10.30am - get hungry and have a piece of fruit and hot chocolate
12.30pm - lunch
2.00pm - brush, floss and mouthwash and put aligners back in
5.30pm - take aligners out for dinner
8.30pm - brush, floss and mouthwash and put aligners back in and go to sleep

My Weekends are slightly different and depending on what I am doing i may have them out the whole day.

I am onto tray 23 out of 22L and 34 uppers - so my bottom teeth are finished and perfect!

I don't want people to look at me and become 'slack' with their wear time but for me it works...my ortho praises me on being compliant with the trays because my teeth are tracking perfectly.

Maybe I'm just lucky?

[LizzyM]

I am actually not sure if I believe that your teeth only move within the first few days. I am on my last lower tray and I could swear that it took about 11 or so days for my last tooth to slide into place.

[gdriftr]

I guess I wear mine between 18 and 20 hours a day. Occasionally I have them out 4-5 hours at a time.

My orthodontist also praises me when I see her because my teeth are moving well.

[Rosieee]

Haha yea...I feel a little guilty about the praise but also happy because my teeth are obviously doing so well! Yours must be much the same.

[Sunny]

Rosieee it's great your teeth are moving as they need to ... but the problems that forcing your teeth to move back and forwards so often during the day may cause, may not be obvious for a few years, or even longer. The main risk you're putting your teeth at, is called root reabsorption. The results of this are the teeth loosening due to less root to hold them in the jaw, and eventually falling out. Some gum reabsorption is quite common with orthodontic treatment, but when teeth are forced to move back and forth, it's even more common.

We recommend our patients wear their aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day ... another reason why, even if I'd been suitable for invisalign, I would have wanted it.

[350GT]

I think the actual tight feeling may only last a day or two, but the actual movement & adaptation of the new position occurs during the full course of each tray.

[myhollywoodsmile]

Does it vary by age too? I'm sure that my orthodontist told me that the older you are the longer they take to move. I may have imagined that though!

[Sunny]

There's no proof that age affects how teeth move, although there is some support that teeth move faster to the front of the jaw quicker as we get older.

There are many things that affect how teeth move ... and this will affect people of all ages.

[jgraham81]

Well I'm terrible somedays I take my trays out in the morning and then don't put them back in until sometime in the afternoon. But usually only in the middle of my 2 weeks. Other days I have them in for 20-22 hours. My dentist said that it's ok here and there. I have to go into my dentist every 2 weeks for trays because my case has been rather complicated. I always make sure that I keep them full-time the 2-3 days prior to changing trays. Having them out for 4.5 hours one day is no big deal.

[mommamorin]

compliance, compliance... you guys must be young ones. As Sunny states, I am sure your noncompliance will show up in years to come.

[LizzyM]

I still say that the trays continue to move your teeth the longer you have them in. I have had my bottom ones in for 8 weeks now and I still notice them moving.

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Mon-Fri mine are only out for 30 mins for each of my 3 meals.

However 1 night at the weekend I will have them out for about 4 hours whilst I sup some vino. I always feel guilty about doing that but maybe I'm not doing so badly!

[Sunny]

Having them out for 4.5 hours one day is no big deal.

Oh yes it is!

In 4.5 hours your teeth will regress, so that when you put the aligner back in, you're forcing movement again ... and each time you force movement you risk damaging the roots of your teeth ... called root reabsorption. Also for the 4.5 hours the aligners are out, your teeth aren't progressing and previous progress is being undone.. Many ortho's allow for some non compliance when they say how long a person needs to wear their aligners, but they can't be held responsible for the damage the person does to the roots of their teeth.

People who don't do as their ortho's recommend need to remember that the only person to blame if their results don't turn out as expected, take longer than expected ... or worst of all ... that further on ... and for some this may be years later ... if your teeth become loose due to root reabsorption ... is themselves. Never blame your ortho for something you had total control over!

[mommamorin]

cheers sunny!

When you get older you'll have many regrets, please don't let your non compliance be one of them. I don't mean to sound like your mother but I've been there, at 52 I've had more than my share. In any event, I hate the thought of any one of you being my age or younger and end up losing your teeth. You'll be kicking yourself in the butt saying damn!!! If I only.....
I'm off my soapbox now.

[myhollywoodsmile]

I'm fairly compliant but I thought I needed to be as I am in my mid-late thirties. I hadn't really realised fully about the root thing though. I will do better.....