Nighttime Clear Aligners offer some people the chance to straighten their teeth at night, while they sleep. Are they the right choice for you? Some people prefer to wear SmileDirectClub aligners during the day, and others choose the nighttime option.

Here are the basics of how the Nighttime Clear Aligners work and how to decide if you might be a good candidate for using them.

How Nighttime Clear Aligners work

Like all SmileDirectClub clear aligners, Nighttime Clear Aligners are custom-made and BPA-free. Each treatment plan is overseen by a licensed dentist or orthodontist, who designs an individualized schedule for every client.

The aligners are worn at least 10 consecutive hours per night. That’s compared to the 22 hours of our standard aligners. The tradeoff is that nighttime aligners’ average use time is 11 months vs. about five for our more round-the-clock aligners.

Who can wear Nighttime Clear Aligners

While a shorter use time is a big benefit for many people, wearing aligners during the day doesn’t work with everyone’s lifestyle.

“Maybe a patient has a business where they’re a customer service rep on the phone all day. Say they’re performers, ” says Dr. Jeffery Sulitzer, SmileDirectClub’s chief medical officer.

Someone who needs to speak very clearly all day might prefer the option to straighten teeth at night. Nighttime Clear Aligners also work well to help correct relatively small alignment issues, Dr. Sulitzer says, like a minor spacing correction.

“If we don’t have to do a lot of pointed tooth movement, that might be a great candidate for Nighttime Clear Aligners,” he says.

Or, Dr. Sulitzer adds, Nighttime Clear Aligners work well for someone who might have had braces or a retainer as a teen but is now an adult with some small regression on a tooth.

Who might not choose Nighttime Clear Aligners

If you have significant crowding or spacing issues, the option to straighten teeth at night may not be the best fit for you. Or, if you want to finish your treatment as quickly as possible — perhaps you have a wedding or graduation coming up — you might want to opt for SmileDirectClub’s 22-hour-wear aligners.

How to request Nighttime Clear Aligners

After this short Nighttime Clear Aligners review, you might be interested in learning more. You can request them and ask any questions you may have when you complete your initial intake for SmileDirectClub services. If you have mild to moderate adjustment needs, you may be a good candidate.

If you’re a good fit, a licensed dentist or orthodontist from SmileDirectClub’s network will create your custom clear-aligner treatment plan that you’ll be able to approve. In three to four weeks, your new aligners will arrive by mail.

It’s that simple.