smile blog

If you’re considering Invisalign or another treatment process, the length of treatment is an important decision making factor. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just snap our fingers and achieve our dream smile? Unfortunately, like most great things in life, we need to be patient and put in the necessary work in order to achieve our goal, but how long will Invisalign take? Several factors impact the length of Invisalign treatment including your individual alignment needs and how regularly you wear your aligners.Wondering what to expect from Invisalign treatment? Docbraces is an Elite Invisalign Provider and our Maritime orthodontists have helped thousands of patients just like you safely achieve their dream smile. Read on to learn more about how long Invisalign will take, when you can first expect to notice a change, and other considerations to keep in mind when selecting a treatment provider.

How long will Invisalign take?

In general, Invisalign treatment will go faster than braces. Keep in mind, however, that this is partially due to the fact that most people who receive Invisalign treatment have only moderate to mild alignment needs. When it comes to estimating treatment length, timing really depends on case complexity. The least complicated cases may take only six months of care. More complicated cases that require the movement of stubborn back teeth could take up to two years.A good rule of thumb our to follow is that the average Invisalign treatment will take approximately 12 months. You should begin noticing a difference within a few weeks of beginning treatment. While the results may appear minimal at first, you should detect noticeable changes after four to six weeks of treatment. However, it’s important to remember that every patient is different. You may see changes much faster than other friends who have used Invisalign– or you may feel like it takes longer to notice a difference.

Why do I need to change aligners?

Invisalign is designed to gradually shift your teeth into place using a series of custom-fit aligners. Each Invisalign aligner will move your teeth an almost imperceptible amount over a two-week period. Teeth are anchored to the jawbone by tooth roots. Rapid attempts at moving teeth can cause root shrinkage, making the teeth less stable. This decreased stability will actually make your teeth more mobile, increasing the risk that teeth will move out of place or worse, become loose or even detached and fall out of your mouth! Changing aligners every two weeks gives your teeth time to slowly and safely move and over the course of treatment and to reach an ideal position without risking tooth loss.

How long do I need to wear my aligners each day?

Ideally, aligners should be worn for at least 22 hours each day. It’s okay to pop out the aligners to eat your meals and brush your teeth. But beyond that, you need to commit to consistently wearing them. Otherwise, you’ll prolong your treatment process or fail to achieve your ideal smile outcome.When you first get your aligners, it’s natural for your jaw to feel stiff and sore. Wearing the plastic aligner may also feel unnatural in your mouth, so it’s tempting to pop the aligner out. Don’t! Commit to wearing the aligners for the daily length of time recommended by our your orthodontist. After several days the soreness will subside and you will become much more used to wearing the aligner.

Will people notice my aligners?

It’s natural to feel a bit self-conscious when you first start Invisalign treatment, but remember that the vast majority of people won’t be able to tell at all! In fact, we've had patients tell us that their coworkers and friends were surprised to learn they had Invisalign treatment– they truly could not tell! If you have crooked teeth, clear braces are an effective treatment option that will help you achieve your dream smile without the noticeable embarrassment of having metal braces.