Our Complete Dental Studio team hears a lot of myths about clear aligners. In this blog, Dr. Katie Vo gives you the clear truth about aligners in Boerne.
Myth 1: “Clear aligners only fix tiny spacing.”
Clear aligners do a lot more than close small gaps. Instead, they move your teeth in small steps to fix many common problems, like:
- Crowding: Your teeth overlap or twist.
- Spacing: There are spaces between your teeth.
- Overbite: When your top teeth stick out too far.
- Underbite: When your bottom teeth rest in front of your top teeth.
- Open bite: Your top and bottom teeth don’t touch when you close your mouth.
- Crossbite: Some of your top teeth fit inside your bottom teeth.
Your treatment will start with a series of digital scans and impressions. With 3D imaging technology, our orthodontist maps out your teeth. That way, she can see how your aligners will fit before they’re designed.
Then, you’ll get customized clear trays. You’ll wear each set for about two weeks, and then get new ones. Wear them consistently, and they’ll handle any orthodontic issues you have.
Myth 2: “You can just wear them at night.”
Only wearing your aligners at night doesn’t work. You need to wear them for around 20 to 22 hours a day. The point? You’ll have to get comfortable sleeping in them.
Here’s why. When your trays are in, they shift your teeth a little at a time. If you leave them out for too long, your teeth will drift back to where they were.
Remove your aligners for meals and brushing, then put them right back in. We suggest that you only drink water while wearing them. Are you on the move? Keep a case with you so you don’t lose or misplace them.
Myth 3: “Anyone who offers aligners is an orthodontist.”
Not everyone who offers aligners is an orthodontist. Orthodontists are specialists. After dental school, they complete two to three years of full-time training, known as a residency.
That training focuses on:
- How teeth and jaws move
- How to plan safe tooth movement
- How to manage tough cases
Many general dentists offer aligners. Some of them do fine with simple cases. But what if your bite issues are more complicated? If that’s you, you want a specialist overseeing your care. An expert knows what’s best for your treatment.
Check their credentials before you start. Look for the word “orthodontist” in the doctor’s title. Read their bio. Where did they complete their residency? Ask how many aligner cases they treat each year. The American Association of Orthodontists has a “Find an Orthodontist” locator tool you can use for free.
Myth 4: “Mail-order aligners are the same as in-office care.”
Not by a long shot! In-person exams, X-rays, and regular check-ins protect your teeth and gums. The American Association of Orthodontists has issued consumer alerts about direct-to-consumer aligners for years. Don’t get treatment apart from a doctor supervising it. If you do, you put your health and finances at risk.
Mail-order treatments skip way too many steps. No full exam. Often, no X-rays. And, there’s little to no face-to-face follow-up. That can hide problems like cavities, gum disease, or bone loss until they get worse.
Read some of the reports in the FDA’s MAUDE database. They describe bite changes, pain, and gum issues in some unsupervised cases. Some of those problems don’t fully reverse.
Recent headlines show the stakes, too. SmileDirectClub shut down in December 2023, and it left many people mid-treatment with no clinical support. Several outlets covered the closure and its fallout, including refund efforts in 2024–2025 for customers who were still being billed.
Myth 5: “Aligners work fast for everyone.”
Treatment speed isn’t the same for everyone. It depends on your bite, your biology, and how well you wear your trays each day.
If you have small spacing or mild crowding issues, you might finish in about six to 10 months. Many moderate cases take 12 to 18 months, and complex bites may need even longer.
For your treatment to give you lasting results, you’ve got to commit to it. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. How well you stick to your plan matters most.
Myth 6: “You can eat and drink anything with trays in.”
Take your trays out for meals! That level of convenience is one of the reasons so many of our patients love their SureSmile and Invisalign trays. While you’re wearing them, stick with water. That’s the simplest way to keep them clear, odor-free, and working well.
Certain foods can crack your trays if you eat with them in. Pass on coffee, soda, wine, and energy drinks, too. They’ll warp, stain, or damage your aligners (and maybe your teeth).
Quick care tips that help you every day:
- Before you eat, put trays into their case. Not a napkin, your pocket, or your purse.
- After meals, rinse your mouth and the trays. Then brush your teeth and put them back in.
- Clean your trays with a soft brush. Please don’t use toothpaste (it can scratch your aligners).
- Avoid hot water. Use cool or lukewarm water only.
- To keep your trays fresh, soak them in Invisalign cleaning crystals or diluted hydrogen peroxide.
- Gum will stick to your trays, so avoid it while you’re wearing them.
Myth 7: “Results last forever without retainers.”
Earlier, we learned that your teeth can move (even after your treatment). What can you do about it?
After completing your aligner treatment, the doctor will likely recommend a retainer. It’s simple. Put it in before you go to bed, then take it out in the morning. The doctor can give you more information at your next appointment.
Remember these healthy retainer habits:
- Wear it as directed, every night.
- Always store it in its case.
- Rinse it daily to keep it clean.
- Call our office if your retainer is damaged or lost.
Schedule Your Clear Aligner Consult
To get started with your aligner treatment with Dr. Vo at Complete Dental Studio in Boerne, go here to schedule your free consultation.
