During orthodontic treatment with clear aligners (such as Invisalign), how many hours a day should the aligners be worn on average?

The greatest advantage of orthodontic treatment with clear aligners is their “removability,” but this also makes the treatment dependent on the patient’s discipline. For the desired tooth movements to occur biologically and for the planned treatment duration to remain unchanged, clear aligners must be worn on the teeth for at least 20 to 22 hours a day. The aligners should only be removed during main meals, while consuming hot beverages, and during oral hygiene routines such as brushing or flossing. Wearing the aligners for shorter periods will result in the aligners not fitting properly when switching to the next set of aligners, causing unwanted forces on the tooth roots, and prolonging the treatment process for months.