Many people want to know if they can wear Invisalign only at night and not during the day. We get this question a lot at Dentistry on the Pines. It sounds great to correct your teeth while you sleep without having to wear aligners during the day, especially for people who are embarrassed to wear braces during the day. The answer is it depends on what type of Invisalign treatment you choose and if you are a good candidate to wear them only at night.

You have to wear your aligners 20-22 hours a day with regular Invisalign. That means you have to wear them all day and night, taking them off just to eat, drink anything other than water or brush your teeth. You wouldn’t be able to move your teeth enough if you only wore basic Invisalign aligners at night. Your treatment would stop and you wouldn’t get the results you want. To move your teeth the aligners need to be in contact with them for long periods of time and apply gentle pressure.

Invisalign does have a product that is meant to be worn at night. You should wear these for about 10 hours every night while you sleep. They are thicker than regular aligners and apply more concentrated pressure on the teeth to make up for the shorter period they are worn. This might work for some patients but not for everyone.

Invisalign that you wear only at night works best for mild to moderate orthodontic cases. You might be a good candidate if you have a little crowding, little gaps or minor alignment issues. In most cases full time wear of basic Invisalign or even regular braces is needed for cases that involve a lot of tooth movement, bite corrections, severe crowding or a lot of rotation. During your appointment in Vaughan we will assess your individual situation to see if overnight aligners can work for you.

One thing to consider is that overnight aligners takes longer than regular Invisalign. Your teeth move slower because you wear the aligners for less hours a day. If you only wear them at night a case that would take 12 months to complete could take 18-24 months or more. Some patients are okay with this longer timeframe if they don’t have to wear aligners during the day while others want to finish their treatment as soon as possible.

If you choose nighttime aligners you have to follow the rules. You have to wear them every night for the whole amount of time recommended. You can really slow down your progress and hurt your results if you miss a few nights or wear them for fewer hours. Nighttime aligners might not be the best option for you if you travel a lot, don’t sleep on a regular schedule or forget your evening routines. It’s harder to forget about standard aligners that you wear all day and night because they become part of your daily life.

For similar circumstances nocturnal Invisalign usually costs about the same as regular Invisalign. The cost varies more on how bad your orthodontic problems are than if you wear the aligners all day or just at night. We will give you exact cost information during your session so you know what you’re getting into.

At Dentistry on the Pines we talk to patients who want to improve their smile about all the options we offer as part of our Cosmetic Dentistry services. For the right person nighttime Invisalign can be a great option. It straightens teeth well without getting in the way of your daytime activities. But you have to be committed, have realistic expectations and be a good fit for this type of treatment.

Regardless of what type of aligners you use, you still need to keep your mouth clean. You need to keep your teeth and aligners clean whether you wear them all day or just at night. It’s very important to keep your teeth clean when getting braces since it helps prevent cavities and gum disease from getting worse which can slow down your progress.

Make an appointment if you live in Vaughan and want to know if you can wear Invisalign only at night. We will assess your teeth, determine what kind of orthodontic work you need and see if overnight aligners are for you. At Dentistry on the Pines we find orthodontic solutions that fit your lifestyle and give you the results you want. Dental implants are a strong, lasting solution for missing teeth. They look and function like natural teeth, supporting both comfort and oral health. Our Vaughan clinic offers implant consultations and full treatment planning.