Our Surrey dentists will determine the approximate duration of your Invisalign treatment based on your initial examination. If you're wondering how long your treatment will take, read on.
Your dentist will supply you with the series of clear plastic aligners at the outset of treatment that will straighten your teeth over time. Each set of these custom aligners will make a specific adjustment to the position of your teeth, after which you will move on to the next set. This process will be carefully mapped out by your dentist before treatment begins.
When the aligners are place on your teeth, they will gradually shift them into their new, predetermined positions.
How long will I wear each set of aligners?
You'll wear each set of aligners in the series for about two weeks.
How many sets of aligners will I receive as part of my treatment?
Your number of aligners depends on how severe your misalignment is. The more complex your misalignment, the more aligners you'll need to correct it.
Most patients can expect at least 10 trays, but some patients may need 24 trays, and others may need more that 40; there are also cases where up to 100 trays have been necessary.
How long will my Invisalign treatment take altogether?
The total duration of your Invisalign treatment will depend mainly on how many trays are necessary to straighten your teeth. Invisalign treatment takes an average 12 months, but this time frame can vary significantly depending on the complexity of your misalignment.
Invisalign treatment takes approximately the same amount of time as traditional braces.
If your dentist has already determined how many aligners you need, you can do the math to figure out how many months treatment will take. Since you'll wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, simply multiply your number of aligners by two, and then divide by four.
This will give you an approximate idea of how long your treatment will take, but there is another factor to keep in mind:
Your Commitment to Treatment
Invisalign aligners are removable, so you can take them out to eat, and to brush and floss your teeth. This is very convenient, but there is a potential downside. It can make it all too easy for patients to "take breaks" from treatment.
The aligners may sometimes feel uncomfortable, making it tempting to just remove them for "just a little while". It can also be easy to forget to put them back in after you've taken them out. This can cause serious problems and delays in your orthodontic treatment. It's important to consider Invisalign a full-time commitment.
You will need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day, everyday, throughout treatment, to make sure it goes according to plan. If you don't, the result may be treatment setback and even damage to your teeth and oral structures.