How Long Does Invisalign Take to Straighten Teeth? A Simple Guide
One-third of Americans desire a better smile. Invisalign is an option for people who wish to have straighter teeth. Invisalign is a dental treatment designed to align your teeth, which uses clear plastic aligners to shift your teeth into a straighter position using gentle pressure.
But how long does Invisalign take and what can you expect from the Invisalign Process? What are the benefits of Invisalign vs braces? If you’re thinking of using Invisalign, here are some things you need to know.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
One question many people ask is what is the basic Invisalign timeline. The answer is that it differs for everyone.
Generally speaking, Invisalign may take anywhere from six months to two years. However, several factors may impact your treatment time.
Wearing Aligners
For Invisalign to work and for you to stay on track with your treatment, you’ll need to wear your aligners anywhere from 20-22 per day, including sleep. If you forget to put them back in you could delay your treatment.
Keeping Aligners Clean
Caring for your aligners is also key. Cleaning aligners once a day to prevent bacteria build-up maintains your aligners and also keeps your gums healthy. Make sure you’re not making these Invisalign cleaning mistakes.
Keeping Appointments
At your check-up appointments, you’ll receive new aligners. It’s critical that you keep your appointments so you can go to the next phase of your treatment.
Tooth Condition
The condition of your teeth is a large factor in the length of your treatment. While Invisalign works to correct a number of dental problems like tooth gaps, crowding, or jaw alignment, each patient’s condition differs. Because of this, one treatment isn’t the same trajectory as the next.
Even though the Invisalign process may take up to two years, you should start seeing results a few weeks after beginning the process.
Age
Your age matters when it comes to Invisalign. Younger children may not have the skill to be responsible for cleaning and inserting their aligners. Adults usually do well with Invisalign, however, because they’ve finished growing, their teeth are not as moveable.
Benefits of Invisalign
There are many advantages to Invisalign.
For one, in the Invisalign vs braces decision, Invisalign usually takes a couple of years in most cases. For braces, it may take longer depending on the case.
You can take Invisalign aligners out to eat and drink for a time. This means you continue a good oral hygiene routine and have healthy teeth at the end of your treatment.
While there’s some pain associated with Invisalign, they’re more comfortable than braces. There are no brackets or wires scraping against the inside of your cheek. You might feel some pressure when you get your next set of aligners, but overall you should feel very little discomfort.
Is Invisalign Right For You?
So how long does Invisalign take? The answer is that it depends on several factors like your condition, age, and responsibility. The only way to know how long Invisalign takes is to schedule an appointment with your local orthodontist. If you have missing teeth though, your dentist may recommend getting quality Dental Implants in Colorado Springs to get the full benefit of Invisalign.
Having straight teeth is an important part of your health. Check out our health page today for more healthy living tips.