Unfinished Treatment: Safe Next Steps

My aligner treatment was left unfinished. What are safe next steps?

If treatment stopped before it was completed, the safe next step is an

in-person assessment with a dentist or orthodontist registered with the

Dental Council of New Zealand. A registered practitioner can examine the

current state of your teeth and advise what, if anything, should happen

next. Do not continue wearing a discontinued sequence on your own.

What can this page establish, and what can't it?

This page describes general next steps. It cannot tell you to continue or

stop any device, because that depends on an examination of your teeth.

What to bring to the assessment

• Any remaining aligners you were given.
• Your treatment plan, if you have a copy.
• Any records, scans, or correspondence about the treatment.

If you are unsure

Until you have been assessed, treat discomfort, poor fit, or unusual

movement as something to raise with a registered practitioner promptly.

Source: Dental Council of New Zealand

(https://dcnz.org.nz/)

Sources checked: 2026-08-11

_The Aligner Guide editorial team. Editorially checked against cited

sources; not clinically reviewed._

This page provides general information, not diagnosis or treatment

advice. For advice about your circumstances, consult an oral-health

practitioner registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand.