{"id":22751,"date":"2020-09-14T18:59:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T17:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/?page_id=22751"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:00:09","slug":"nighttime-clear-aligners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/adult-braces\/nighttime-clear-aligners\/","title":{"rendered":"Nighttime Clear Aligners: Can You Fix Your Teeth While You Sleep?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are nighttime clear aligners?<\/strong> And do they really work?<\/p>

Just as the name suggests, nighttime braces, or aligners, are clear aligners that require only 10 hours of wear per day. That means you can spend most of those hours sleeping. Talk about getting your beauty sleep! But is it really possible to straighten teeth at night in just 10 hours per day? Is it safe and does it cost more?<\/p>

In this article, we\u2019ll answer all of your questions about orthodontics<\/a> treatment with nighttime clear aligners, and we\u2019ll take a closer look at the adult braces<\/a> brands that are currently offering them.<\/p>

What are nighttime clear aligners?<\/h2>

Before we dive into the depths of nighttime aligners, let\u2019s have a quick refresher about clear aligners<\/a> in general.<\/p>

\"night
What are nighttime clear aligners?<\/figcaption> <\/figure> <\/div>

Clear aligners are an alternative to traditional braces when it comes to straightening teeth. They are increasingly popular among adults and older teens<\/a> who don\u2019t want the \u2018brace face\u2019 aesthetic. They may involve remote treatment or in-office treatment, but either way, they are removable, and treatment time is usually shorter than it is with normal braces.<\/p>

In the case of remote treatment, clear aligners are considerably more affordable than in-office options. However, just because clear aligners are removable doesn\u2019t mean you can take them out whenever you want. They still need to be worn for 20 to 22 hours every day. At least that\u2019s how it was until nighttime aligners came along.<\/p>

Clear aligners are all about convenience and discretion, so it makes sense that the next step in their evolution would be aligners that you only have to wear at night. Hence the nighttime option.<\/p>

\"night
What\u2019s the difference between day and night aligners?<\/figcaption> <\/figure> <\/div>

These aligners only need to be worn for 10 hours per day so you can wear them while you sleep, with potentially an hour or two of wear before or after sleeping.<\/p>

Unlike aligners that you wear around the clock, nighttime aligners require continuous wear, meaning you can\u2019t take them out to eat or drink. Once they\u2019re in, they must stay in until the prescribed time is up. They also generally require longer treatment time than standard aligners, and in some cases, they are more expensive.<\/p>

But how do they work with just 10 hours of wear per day?<\/p>

In some cases, it\u2019s the longer treatment time that helps achieve results, and in other cases, night braces<\/strong> can be made with a thicker plastic that allows more force to be applied to the teeth. It\u2019s this gentle but continuous force that gradually guides teeth into proper alignment.<\/p>

Nighttime vs. daytime aligners<\/h3>

There are three main differences between nighttime and daytime aligners:<\/strong><\/p>