How Long Invisalign Take

Invisalign Treatment Timeline

Invisalign at Cornerstone Family Dentistry in Chapel Hill  is becoming an increasingly popular orthodontic treatment option. Patients are often attracted to the barely visible aligners which can be removed as needed. A common question patients have for the orthodontists is how long Invisalign take to straighten their teeth. The timeline largely varies from patient to patient. For a more simple case, treatment can be finished in just six months. For a majority of patients, however, it takes 12 to 18 months to complete the Invisalign treatment. For complicated cases, including crowded teeth, treatment can take 24 months or more. In some cases, the issues are too complicated for Invisalign to be effective and the orthodontist may need to use traditional braces or other treatment options. No treatment plan is identical as each case in unique.

Invisalign Treatment Times

Because every case is different, the orthodontist will communicate the treatment plan and help estimates how long the process will take. The main components that impact the treatment timeline for Invisalign include the following:

• The amount of movement required to achieve the desired results
• How responsive your teeth are to Invisalign
• The level of complexity in the treatment plan
• The level of compliance with wearing Invisalign aligners for the suggested 20-22 hours daily

During the initial consultation, the orthodontist or dentist will typically share an estimate regarding how long the Invisalign treatment will take. The dental professional will create a comprehensive treatment plan which includes the estimated treatment time, recommended treatments and the overall cost.

Invisalign Closing a Gap

Invisalign is often used to close the gaps between the teeth. It is important to note that there can be limitations. Invisalign can be used to treat gaps as wide as 6 mm. It make take 24 months or more to complete the adjustment. If an individual gap or multiple gaps combined are greater than 6 mm, it is likely that Invisalign will not be used for treatment.

Invisalign and Crowded Teeth

If the crowding of the teeth is not sever, Invisalign can be completed in as little as 6 months to a year. In cases of more severe crowding, the treatment will take longer to complete. In severely crowded teeth, Invisalign may not be a possible treatment option. Your dentist or orthodontist will evaluate your case and provide the treatment options. The dental professional may encourage the use of other treatments in addition to Invisalign or may not recommend the use of Invisalign in your treatment plan.

Invisalign for Adults

Invisalign has not been found to take longer to treat adults in comparison to children or teenagers. Every patient’s teeth are unique and some people’s teeth respond to treatments more quickly than others. Age is not a good determining factor in the treatment timeline.

Recommended Time for Invisalign

Many Invisalign candidates are attracted by their ability to remove the alignment trays as needed. Traditional metal braces can be less enticing as they cannot be removed. In order to be effective, Invisalign trays should be worn for 20-22 hours each day. The retainers should only be removed to eat, drink, brush the teeth, floss and for special occasions. Patients should minimize the amount of time the trays are removed as this can extend the treatment timeline.

Patients who are considering Invisalign should make sure they are willing to wear the retainers for at least 22 hours each day. Doubts in the patient’s ability to comply can compromise the effectiveness of Invisalign.

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