Invisalign is a discrete option for straightening teeth for those who are looking for an orthodontic treatment option that doesn't require the appearance of braces. Today, our Surrey orthodontists discuss approximately how long treatment takes with Invisalign clear aligners.
Invisalign Clear Aligner Treatment
Braces are no longer your only treatment option if you have crooked, gapped, or misaligned teeth. Invisalign clear aligners can be a convenient way to straighten your teeth without the use of metal wires and brackets.
Invisalign is a series of removable, clear plastic aligners that gradually straighten your teeth. Compared to braces, they have the added benefit of being less noticeable when they're worn, and they can be taken out when you eat, drink, brush, and floss.
If you're not too sure how long it takes for Invisalign to work, we're here to fill you in. The average Invisalign treatment process for adults typically takes about a year. The average treatment course for teens tends to be a little longer. Keep in mind that each patient is unique, and several factors could influence the length of treatment.
For the most accurate estimate of how long your treatment will take, book a consultation with your orthodontist. After scanning your mouth, they should be able to determine how many clear aligner trays you will need throughout treatment as well as how long the entire process should take if everything goes as planned. The scans can also be digitally altered to show you what your new smile can look like after your treatment has been completed.
Invisalign clear aligners have proven to be effective in correcting mild to moderate misalignment issues, such as crowded teeth, crooked teeth, gapped teeth, overbites, underbites, and open bites.
The Number of Aligners in Your Series
Invisalign treatment consists of a series of aligners (trays). You will move on to the next set of trays every two weeks or so, as directed by your dentist. If you already know how many aligners are in your series, you can figure out how long your treatment will take with some simple math.
Let’s assume you have 16 sets of aligners. You have to switch them out every two weeks, so that’s two sets of aligners each month. 16 divided by 2 is 8, so your treatment will take 8 months as long as everything goes as planned.
Keep in mind there is a chance that you will require more trays after you've gone through all of the initial trays. If a certain amount of progress has not been reached, you may need to wear a specific set of trays for more than two weeks, extending the length of your treatment.
The Severity of Your Misalignment
If your teeth are severely misaligned, you may require a longer treatment process to get the straighter smile you're looking for. This is also true with braces, but with Invisalign, the severity of your misalignment determines the number of aligner trays you'll need.
Your Compliance with Treatment
Possibly the biggest reason for treatment to take longer than expected is the patient's ability to follow the strict rules of Invisalign aligners. The Invisalign process is quite strict and aligners must be worn as directed by your orthodontist to ensure that your treatment goes as planned (and doesn't take any longer).
You must wear your aligners full-time every day during your Invisalign treatment. This means you'll have to wear your aligners for about 22 hours every day. They should only be taken out briefly to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush and floss their teeth.
Your teeth may shift back out of position if you leave your aligners out for too long or remove them too frequently. If your teeth aren't shifting as much as they should after any set of trays in your series, you may have to wear the same set for longer or require additional trays. Either way, you're likely extending the duration of your treatment by weeks or even months.
How long before I start noticing results?
Each set of trays is designed to move your teeth by only a few millimetres, so it can be hard to notice the effects, especially at first. Most patients begin to see results from their Invisalign treatment after four or six months. Try taking a picture of your smile once a week to get a better idea of how much your teeth have shifted after starting your treatment.