Invisalign is an inconspicuous alternative to metal braces for straightening your teeth. Read on to find out how long the Invisalign process will take.
Invisalign is a series of clear plastic aligners. These aligners straighten your teeth in small increments over a period of time, just let metal braces, but they are far less obvious when worn.
For adults, the average course of Invisalign for adults is about a year, and it will take a bit longer for teens. Each patient is different, however and there are multiple factors that may impact the duration of your Invisalign treatment.
The Severity of Your Misalignment
It may not surprise you to learn that, if your teeth are severely misaligned, it will take longer to straighten them. This is the case with braces too, but with Invisalign, the severity of your misalignment will determine...
The Number of Aligners in your Series
Invisalign is a series of aligners, and the aligners are switched out biweekly. If you already know how many aligners are in your series, then to find out how long your treatment will take, just do the 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 that means your treatment will take 8 months.
Your Compliance to Treatment
Your decisions play a vital role in the duration of your treatment. At the outset of the Invisalign process, your dentist will give you an estimate of how long treatment will take. To help make sure treatment goes as planned, be sure to wear you aligners as your dentist has prescribed.
During the Invisalign process, you must wear your aligners full time, every day, to make sure everything stays on track. That means 22 hours a day of aligner wear.
Doing this will ensure that your treatment goes as quickly as possible. So, be sure to only take your aligners out to eat, brush and floss… and don’t forget to put them back in!
Are you Using AccleDent?
Acceledent is a supplementary orthodontic device that can help make the orthodontic treatment process go faster. Acceledent uses soft pulse technology and cyclic forces to accelerate the movement of teeth by up to 50%.
Ask your dentist about whether this device is right for you.
How long before I start noticing results?
Typically, patients begin to see results around the 4 - 6 week mark. You may find it helpful to to take a picture of your smile each week, so that you can get a better idea of how your teeth are moving.
