To achieve your ideal smile, it shouldn’t take years of dealing with uncomfortable braces, painful elastics, and eating and drinking restrictions. With Invisalign’s innovative teeth-straightening solutions, you can see results in as little as six months.
In this post, we’ll explore how Invisalign works and how long you can expect to wear them. This way, you’ll be prepared to have an informed discussion when you consult with your dentist.
Ready to get those straight teeth you’ve always wanted? Call Luminae today for an Invisalign consultation with one of our experienced cosmetic dentists.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign treatment occurs in three easy steps: digital scanning, fitting, and wearing your aligners.
An experienced orthodontic or dentistry specialist will perform a digital scan of your teeth and discuss your desired results. Then, they’ll create and fit your first aligners, ensuring that they’re comfortable, and answer any questions you may have.
Treatment plans vary based on your individual needs and goals. Once your teeth straighten as much as the first aligners allow, you’ll be given a new set designed to continue your progress, further straightening your teeth. You’ll wear each set of aligners for a specific period of time and attend follow-up appointments where you’ll get a new set of aligners. This is repeated until you achieve your dream smile
When Can You Start Seeing Results From Invisalign?
Depending on your goals, the complexity of your case, and how often you wear your aligners, you could start seeing results within weeks and potentially complete your entire treatment plan within six months. Talking with a dentist or orthodontist can help you understand your available options.
How Long Does Invisalign Take to Fix Crowded Teeth?
Timelines vary based on the complexity of your crowding and how closely you adhere to your treatment plan. For milder cases, you may see final results within six months. More complicated crowding can take up to two years.
How Long Does Invisalign Take to Close a Gap?
With Invisalign, smaller gaps can be closed in six months, whereas larger gaps of up to six millimeters can take as long as 24 months to correct. Your teeth are unique, and your results will depend on the size of your gap and the recommendation of your cosmetic dentist.
Does Invisalign Take Longer to Straighten Teeth for Adults vs. Children?
Age is not a determining factor when it comes to the length of time it takes for Invisalign to straighten teeth. No two sets of teeth are the same, and every case is unique. Some people’s teeth move quickly, and others may take a bit longer to correct.
What Can Affect Invisalign Wear Time?
Everyone wants to achieve their ideal results as quickly as possible, but you should always follow the recommendation of your orthodontist. There are a number of factors that can impact how long Invisalign takes, ranging from the state of your teeth to how frequently you wear your aligners.
Teeth Crowding
Teeth crowding usually takes longer to correct than gaps in your teeth. If you have minimal or mild crowding, you may see results within six months. More severe cases can take longer, especially if crowding isn’t the only issue.
Gaps in Teeth
Each set of aligners typically offers about 0.25 millimeters of movement every two weeks. So, if you have a two-millimeter gap, you can expect to wear your aligners for about three to four months, depending on the complexity of your case.
Over and Under Bites
With alignment issues like an over or underbite, your Invisalign timeline depends on the complexity of your case. For minor over or underbites, you may need just three to four months. More severe alignment cases can take anywhere from six months to two years. Your orthodontist will evaluate your situation and advise you on the best course of action.
Following Recommended Wear Time
Your orthodontic specialist will recommend a specific plan of care that usually includes at least 22 hours of wear time. The more often you wear your aligners, the faster your teeth will move into the right position. You want to make sure that you’re following the schedule outlined by your dentist. Otherwise, you may run into discomfort or hinder your progress.
Additionally, you’ll need to wear your final aligners at night even after you’ve completed your treatment. This ensures you won’t lose your results over time.
How Long Do You Need to Wear Invisalign Daily?
You should always follow the recommendation of your orthodontist when it comes to wear time. Because you can’t eat or brush your teeth with your aligners in, you will have to take them out on occasion throughout the day. That said, the general rule of thumb is to wear your aligners as much as possible, shooting for 22 hours a day.
Invisalign Treatment Time vs. Traditional Braces
Unless you have severe orthodontic issues and because you’ll be changing out your aligners every two weeks, you can complete your Invisalign treatment time in under a year. On the other hand, traditional braces typically require at least 12-18 months. And, if you have a complicated case, you could end up wearing your braces for two to three years.
Is Invisalign expensive compared to braces?
The cost of Invisalign is comparable to that of traditional metal braces. The cost for braces is usually between $1,700 and $6,000 for a full course of treatment. Invisalign typically costs between $2,650 and $9,000.
Get Started Using Invisalign With Luminae
If you don’t want to alter your daily routines with the eating restrictions and discomfort of traditional braces, Invisalign is a comfortable and effective way to achieve your ideal smile fast.
At Luminae, we want you to love the way your teeth look and feel so that you can take on each day from a place of comfort and confidence. When you’re ready to start your Invisalign treatment, give us a call, and we’ll work with you to achieve results that will blow you away.
