by Malavi Sivakanesan • 14 October 2024 • 5 min read
Gone are the days when we had to make do with unsightly metal braces for straightening misshapen teeth. Now millions of people worldwide are adopting Invisalign, the clear aligners that pull your teeth in the desired position.
Discreet, comfortable, and tailormade, these clear aligners are an ideal choice for getting that dazzling smile. If you are planning on getting an Invisalign treatment and thinking about how long Invisalign takes, this article is all you need.
We have put together this comprehensive guide to take you through the Invisalign process and the factors that affect your treatment timeline. Read on to know more.
How Long Does it Take for Invisalign to Work on Teeth Straightening?
Invisalign is the perfect solution for a wide variety of oral health issues. The amount of time that this treatment takes varies from person to person. But more on that later.
First, let’s look at the treatment timeline. On average, this treatment may last for anywhere between twelve to eighteen months. However, this is a generalised estimate.
Let’s look at this in more detail.
Overbite
When your top teeth have a large overlap over your bottom teeth, the condition is known as overbite. While it is common to have to have some overbite, anything larger than 1-2 mm is considered to be excess and is treated through Invisalign. Your overbite treatment may take anywhere between six to thirty-six months.
Open Bite
Open bite is when your top and bottom rows of teeth don’t touch each other fully while your mouth is closed. Invisalign is extremely effective and can take anywhere between twelve to twenty-four months to treat this condition.
Crowded Teeth
Sometimes there are gap issues in your jaws that don’t allow all your teeth to fit in naturally. As a result, your teeth may overlap each other. This not only looks unaesthetic but may also lead to food debris getting stuck between your teeth resulting in oral health issues. Invisalign normally treats mildly crowded teeth in around six months.
Gaps in Teeth
Normally, our teeth are bunched together snugly. However, at times, there may be some extra space between the teeth. Invisalign due to its ‘pull action’ can effectively close gap teeth in seven to eight weeks.
Crossbite
This is a condition in which your bottom teeth jut out from beneath your upper teeth due to a lack of their alignment. This may be a combination of an overbite and an underbite and is a complex issue to treat. However, it is possible to treat this condition between twelve to thirty-six months.
Some Reasons Why these Treatment Times May Be Different for You
There is no one answer to the question of how long does Invisalign take to treat different oral conditions.
Because the Invisalign treatment is personalised for every individual, the timeline varies from person to person. This simply means that if a condition takes eighteen months for you to get treated might take twenty-four months for someone else. Here are some reasons why these timelines differ:
Age
While it is a very effective line of treatment for people of all ages, how long does Invisalign take to straighten your teeth depends on how old you are. Since teenagers still have softer bone density, their teeth straighten faster than those of adults.
Complexity of Your Oral Problem
One of the most critical factors that determine how long does it take for Invisalign to work is how severe your dental issue is.
Needless to say, the more complicated your issue, the longer it will take for Invisalign to work.
Discipline
Invisalign treatment plan has a fixed compliance routine. For instance, you need to wear a set of aligners for one to two weeks and move to the other set. These need to be worn for at least eighteen to twenty-two hours a day. Your dentist will call you for periodic checkups every six to eight weeks to adjust if required.
If you don’t comply with any of these steps, your treatment plan may be affected significantly leading to delays in straightening your teeth.
Conclusion
It is natural to wonder how long does it take for Invisalign to work. After all, the smile of your dreams is dependent on this treatment. It is best to speak to a dentist about your concerns and questions.
At Complete Smiles, we tailor Invisalign treatments according to your unique needs and make it work for you in the minimum possible time. Contact our experienced dentists today to learn how to get started.
Malavi Sivakanesan
Malavi Sivakanesan is the principal dentist and co-founder at Complete Smiles in Harrow, Greater London. She is responsible for establishing the Complete Smiles brand throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and has 5 successful practices under her strong leadership.