How Long Does Invisalign Take?

While the length of treatment varies from person to person, Invisalign is completed in 12 to 18 months, on average. Compared to an average of 18 to 24 months for traditional braces, that’s quite a difference. Here are some of the factors that determine how long your treatment will take:

• Compliance – It’s crucial to wear your trays at least 20- 22 hours per day, which should allow plenty of time to eat and brush and floss.
• Severity – Each set of clear aligner trays is worn for about 2 weeks at a time. The more severe your alignment issues are, the more sets you’ll need to make corrections. For example, someone with mild crowding or gaps may only need 18 sets (which would take about 9 months), while someone with more involved problems like a cross bite would need 40 sets (which would take about 20 months). In particularly severe cases, traditional braces may be recommended for the best results.
• Age – As you get older, your jawbone becomes more dense or “set,” so it takes a bit longer to move your teeth than it would for teens or young adults.

Will Invisalign Work For You?

Your smile is just as unique as you are, so the only way to be sure Invisalign is right for you is to schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist in Mid-Cities. Once they’ve discussed your goals and evaluated your oral health, they’ll make the best recommendation for you. And after taking images of your teeth, they can even show you virtual results of how your smile will look after treatment. Also, you’ll be glad to know that Invisalign works beautifully for many of the same issues as traditional braces, including:

• Crowding
• Gaps between the teeth
• Overbites and underbites
• Cross bites and deep bites

At the end of the day, it’s no coincidence that Invisalign has such a high satisfaction rating. It’s an excellent alternative to metal braces that not only provides reliable results, but often does it in less time. And once you’ve decided to straighten your teeth, why wait any longer than you have to?

About the Author

Dr. Sara Saremi is a general and cosmetic dentist in Mid-Cities who graduated with honors from Boston University School of Dental Medicine. As an Invisalign-certified dentist, she’s able to give her patients the beautiful smile they want, in less time than they expect. If you’re interested in Invisalign or have any questions, you can reach her via her website.