How Long Will It Take for Invisalign to Work for Me?

Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? That’s essentially what you’ve realized about your smile – it’s not going to look perfect overnight.

You’ve heard some good things about Invisalign clear braces and think that might be the right choice for you, but how long is it going to take? This is an answer that needs some discussion with a dentist, so keep reading to find out what your Invisalign timeline in Denton looks like.

What’s the Procedure for Treatment with Invisalign?

If you are just now discovering Invisalign, it involves wearing a series of plastic, removable aligners that you switch to at set increments. When you talk to your dentist about treatment, they will take photographs and a 3D scan of your teeth, examine your teeth and a corresponding X-ray, determine if you are an Invisalign candidate, and write up a recommendation.

If you are deemed a good candidate, your dentist creates a 3D computerized model to help them figure out where your teeth need to move so they can plan the aligners. Depending on your situation, you may need anywhere from six to more than 50 aligners for your treatment to be effective.

Each aligner will move your teeth up to one-third of a millimeter before you pop in the next one. Expect to change aligners every 1-2 weeks. There is a smartphone app – My Invisalign Smile – that can scan your teeth and clear you to progress to the next aligner if they have already moved far enough!

In order not to delay your progress, expect to wear your aligner for at least 22 hours each day – taking it out to eat and brush your teeth.

How Long is the Treatment Time for Invisalign?

If your case is not particularly complex, you are probably looking at as few as six months of treatment. If you have a lot of correction that needs to be done, it could take up to two years. The average treatment time is about 12 months, but the good news is you’ll begin to notice progress within just a few weeks.

Each patient is different, so some people will see changes sooner than others.

How Can I Shorten My Invisalign Treatment Period?

Here are some tips that might speed up your process a bit:

• Make sure you wear the aligners 22-plus hours each day.
• Take good care of them. For example, don’t rinse them in hot water and wrap them in a napkin while you eat.
• Brush out any food particles and plaque from your aligners and give them a deep clean 1-2 times per week.
• Be sure to change aligners on the right date and take them with you when traveling.
• Don’t forget about the smartphone app that allows you to scan your teeth at home and could potentially have you progress through aligners faster.

In short, it’s not guaranteed you can finish ahead of schedule with Invisalign, but there are things you can be diligent about doing to increase your chances. Ask your dentist in Denton what they feel is most important to ensure you keep making progress in your treatment.

About the Author

Dr. Jonathan Aguilar is a DFW native who is thrilled to be serving his community. His favorite thing about being a dentist is the opportunity to interact with patients one-on-one in a comfortable environment. Dr. Aguilar earned his dental doctorate from Texas A&M College of Dentistry. If you seek to upgrade your smile, he offers an array of cosmetic dental treatments. To schedule a consultation, visit his website or call (940) 566-5332.