How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Actually Take?

You may have already heard that Invisalign in Kansas City allows people to address all sorts of issues with their smile, including gaps, rotations, crowding, and even misaligned bites. However, you may have also heard that it generally takes a fraction of the time to complete Invisalign treatment compared to traditional orthodontics like metal braces. If you’re wondering what the more specific answer is, there are a few different factors that you’ll need to consider ahead of time.

The Complexity of Your Case

Simply put, the more severe your smile’s misalignment is and the more teeth you need to address, the more aligners will be needed in your treatment. The more aligners you have, the longer it will take to complete. For example, less complicated cases tend to take about six months on average to get done. This is much shorter than the average Invisalign case, which generally runs about 12 months. However, it’s not unheard of for Invisalign treatment to take as long as 18 months to complete.

Even if treatment does take several months to finish, the good news is you’ll actually start to notice your teeth shifting as you undergo the process. This is much different than braces where your smile’s new appearance isn’t really noticeable until the hardware comes off. With Invisalign, you’ll likely notice additional progress every two weeks (which is generally when the next pair of aligners in your series are worn).

Your Commitment and Compliance

One of the caveats of Invisalign is that you’ll need to make sure that you wear the aligners for at least 22 hours per day so they can effectively shift teeth. Failing to do so will only allow them to shift back to their previous positions, prolonging the length of your treatment. This commitment is one of the most significant factors that affects the length of your realignment journey.

Additionally, it’s important that you comply with all recommendations provided by the dentist you receive the aligners from. This includes practicing the right aligner maintenance steps to prevent them from being damaged as well as removing them of bacteria when you perform oral care.

How to Speed Up Your Treatment Process

If you want to make your treatment as quick as possible, simply keep these tips in mind:

• Brush food particles out of your aligners when you practice brushing and flossing
• If an aligner gets cracked, call the dentist you received it from right away
• Perform a deep clean of your current aligners (i.e. soaking them in cleansing liquid)
• Pay close attention to the dates you are supposed to switch to the next pair in your series
• Keep them safe and on hand when traveling
• Maintain regular dental checkups so the dentist can monitor your progress

Invisalign can take much less time overall, but it really depends on how much you want a straighter smile. Schedule an appointment with a dentist today to learn more about the process or begin your Invisalign treatment!

About the Author

Dr. Byars has completed countless hours of continuing education since he opened his own practice back in 2007. Since then, he’s been able to provide Invisalign to patients and greatly enjoys helping them achieve a straight smile they not only will enjoy showing off, but keep healthy for many years to come. To schedule an appointment, you can contact him through his website.