How Long Does Invisalign Take?

Lots of people ask about the Invisalign process and treatment times, this article is therefore dedicated to helping you understand about the Invisalign treatment and how long it might take for different clinical situations.

What is the Invisalign process

The basic Invisalign process is as follows:

• An initial consultation to assess your suitability for the Invisalign process.
• A 3-D digital scan is taken of your teeth, this is then used to calculate the number of aligner trays you will require.
• The Invisalign trays are then manufactured using the latest CADCAM technology.
• After approximately 2 weeks you return to the practice to have your 1st trays fitted.
• You then wear your aligners for 22 hours a day, removing them only to eat and clean your teeth.
• You need to wear the number of aligners which will be calculated for you in the initial digital scan stage.

How long does Invisalign take for crowded teeth

Cases of crowding will usually take approximately 12 months, treatment times may be shorter if only the front teeth need to be moved but maybe longer if treatment involves the back teeth.

How long does Invisalign take to close a gap

if you have spaced front teeth with gaps then the virtually invisible braces should be able to close the gap in around 6 months.

How long does Invisalign take for an overbite

Patients with a large overbite (the top teeth sticking too far forward) may have one of 2 causes:

1. Maxillary superiority - The upper jaw is too big.
2. Mandibular inferiorit - The lower jaw is too small.

The result of both is that the top teeth seem to stick out too far however patients with mandibular inferiority often have little or no chin..

Treatments of an overbite may not always be suitable to be treated with Invisalign, even if they are treatment times maybe up to 2 years, particularly if back teeth movement is also required.

When should I start seeing Invisalign results

Invisalign aligners should start to straighten your teeth immediately with results being visible after approximately 1 month.

How can I make braces treatment faster?

Some people may be change your aligners more frequently than the recommended 2 weeks in order to move their teeth faster. Patients wearing traditional braces have also been known to double up on elastic bands in order to increase the pressure on the teeth, in the hope that this teeth will move quicker.

Research indicates that putting more pressure on teeth does not move them quicker, in fact, in some cases this can slow the process down.

The research shows that teeth move quicker with sustained but gentle pressure. This means you will get the fastest treatment with Invisalign if you wear your aligners for the maximum period of time, at least 22 hours per day.

Which takes longer, traditional braces or Invisalign

if the exact same treatment is being undertaken with traditional braces or Invisalign then there should be no difference in the length of time the treatment takes.

There are however alternativesto Invisalign, such as the Inman aligner which can straighten teeth in around 9 weeks. This is achieved with an innovative spring which pushes and pulls at the same time.

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