Generally, it takes 12-18 months for Invisalign to fully straighten teeth. Your exact timeline will depend on how compliant you are with your orthodontist’s instructions. To answer the question, How long does Invisalign take the best way to ensure speedy results is to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. If you remove them too often, the alignment process will “pause,” slowing your progress.
Initial Consultation
Before starting your Invisalign treatment, it is best to book a free consultation with a qualified provider to ensure you receive the right level of care. During your appointment, the expert will take complex 3D images of your teeth and create a personalised digital treatment plan.
This plan will indicate how long your Invisalign should take to achieve your desired results. This will take into consideration factors such as your current dental health, dental history, and any previous orthodontic work.
The doctor will also examine the shape and colour of your teeth to determine the best approach to straightening them. This may include the use of X-rays, photographs, or dental impressions. Many providers now opt to use a digital scanner, which is more comfortable and accurate than taking traditional impressions with a putty-like material. This can shave off up to two weeks of your total treatment time. Once your customised plan is complete, the doctors will fabricate and send your new aligners to you.
Alignment Appointments
Once the initial treatment plan has been created, a custom set of Invisalign aligners is made. You’ll then schedule follow-up appointments about every 4 – 6 weeks at Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates to check your progress and receive new aligners.
These trays are worn for 20-22 hours a day, with only short periods of removal to eat and brush your teeth. Patients can usually expect a few days of mild discomfort as they adjust to the new position of their teeth and jaws.
Most adults who wear their Invisalign trays correctly achieve the results they desire in about 12 months. However, this can vary significantly depending on the severity of your alignment issues and how consistently you wear the trays. Patients who strictly adhere to the guidelines of wearing their trays for a minimum of 22 hours a day will see much faster results than those who remove them too frequently. This is why it’s important to come in for a consultation early on to determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
New Aligners
During your treatment, you will receive new sets of clear aligners every two weeks. These trays are designed to assist in the repositioning of the teeth into a straighter, more appealing smile. Your orthodontist will schedule office visits for you every 6 to 12 months so he or she can check your progress and make sure that the aligner trays are working properly.
Your orthodontist will take x-rays, photos of your teeth and face, and dental impressions of your teeth and jaws. These will be sent to the Invisalign lab, where they will digitally design and fabricate a series of clear aligners that are custom-fitted for your teeth. These aligners are made out of SmartTrack material, a clear, medical-grade plastic that is comfortable to wear.
Your alignment timeline will vary based on how severe your crooked or overcrowded teeth are. Your age also plays a role: younger patients tend to see faster results than older patients, because their teeth and mouths are still developing. Finally, your level of compliance with your doctor’s instructions will also play a role in how long the treatment will last.
Checkups
Throughout the treatment, patients will need to visit their dentist regularly to get new aligners. This allows their teeth to continue moving into the optimum position, and it also ensures that they’re progressing as expected. If they skip these appointments, their teeth may not shift as quickly, and it can even stop them from advancing altogether.
The dentist will remove the old aligners and put in the new ones, based on the treatment plan they have mapped out. Then they’ll scan your mouth again with a 3D scanner, which is much quicker and more comfortable than taking impressions.
It’s important that patients wear their aligners for about 22 hours a day, only removing them when they eat or brush and floss their teeth. This will give the aligners the time they need to straighten your smile. Many people will start to notice results within a few months, but it’s not uncommon for it to take longer for others.