How Long Does Invisalign Take? The Factors Affecting Teeth Straightening Treatment

12/07/2024

How Long Does Invisalign Take? The Factors Affecting Teeth Straightening Treatment

When you have crooked teeth, it’s often all you see when you look at your smile. You may have considered teeth straightening in the past but decided against it because you didn’t want to wear fixed braces. 

Invisalign is a translucent, removable aligner system that straightens teeth subtly and conveniently. You don’t need to worry about people seeing your aligner because barely anyone will. And you won’t need to think too hard about what to eat because your removable aligner won’t get in the way of your favourite meals. 

Although this may all sound very attractive, you may be left with more questions, like, “How long does Invisalign take?” and “What affects the treatment duration?”

To help you understand Invisalign, we’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions. Here’s what you can expect from your treatment. 

Who Can Have Invisalign?

The beauty of Invisalign is that most people who want to straighten their teeth can have it. Invisalign is effective for treating mild to moderate orthodontic issues. Although children and teens commonly use it, it’s also very popular among adults of all ages. 

What Can Invisalign Treat?

We can use Invisalign to address crowding, spaces, and crooked teeth. We can also treat bite alignment issues such as overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite. 

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign aligners use constant gentle forces to gradually move your teeth into a favourable position. Every aligner is designed to create the exact amount of pressure in the right area. 

Throughout your treatment, you’ll swap aligners every two weeks. Your new aligner may look like the last one, but it’s designed to further the work of your previous aligners. Each new aligner moves your teeth by a fraction of a millimetre. 

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

Treatment lengths can vary from six months to two or more years. 

During your initial consultation, we’ll take digital scans of your smile and use advanced software to map out the journey your teeth will take to straightness. Using the treatment plan we’ll generate, we can determine how many aligners you’ll need and how long it should take in your case.  

What Factors Affect Invisalign Treatment Duration?

Several factors affect treatment duration. We consider these when estimating how long it will take in your case. 

How Much Your Teeth Need To Move

Every smile is unique, and your teeth will have developed into their current position based on factors like genetics, illness and injury in your youth, habits in early childhood like thumbsucking, and more. Because of the diverse influences on the appearance of your smile, your Invisalign treatment will differ significantly from someone else’s. 

Some teeth may need to move a very small amount, while others have further to go until they appear straight.

Your Age

Although Invisalign is suitable for all ages, tooth movements can occur quicker when you’re still a teen. Your age will factor into the treatment duration. 

Your Oral Health

Issues with the health of your teeth and gums can affect your treatment. We’ll assess your oral health before treatment begins. We recommend maintaining excellent standards of oral care during your treatment to keep your smile healthy and to avoid potential issues that could cause delays. 

How Well You Stick To Your Treatment Plan

Every Invisalign treatment plan involves wearing your aligners for 22 hours each day. They are lightweight and comfortable, perfect for near-constant wear. The only times you should remove your aligners are when eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing. 

If you take your aligner out for prolonged periods and forget to put it back in, you’ll reduce the effectiveness of the treatment and cause delays. 

Invisalign in Sheffield

Invisalign is an effective and elegant solution for straightening your teeth. It’s perfect for smiles of all ages. A full consultation will help you understand how long your treatment will take and what it will entail. 

Contact us today to book your initial Invisalign consultation.

Back to Blog