While Invisalign is a customized orthodontic alternative, it also operates by a tried-and-true formula. Patients know that you have to follow the numbers when it comes to Invisalign if you want the treatment to work effectively and within a reasonable timeline. Here are all the numbers you need to know.
About 1 year
Invisalign treatment takes an average of one year to complete but can range anywhere from six to 15 months or more. The timeline is developed at the start of treatment so you know what to expect and how long you’ll be in trays. However, things can change along the way. If you are not dedicated to wearing your aligners as instructed, that could make things take longer. Sometimes your teeth don’t move as quickly as your dentist planned and that can lengthen the treatment.
If you have a less complicated case and only need a few crooked teeth moved into alignment, your treatment time could be considerably less than someone who needs full alignment.
20 to 22 hours
To get the most benefit from your trays, they need to be on your teeth the majority of every day – 20 to 22 hours at a minimum. That leaves you with a few hours for meals, snacks, and cleaning, which is plenty of time. For most clear braces patients, the freedom of being able to remove their trays at their leisure and eat whatever they want without restriction is worth this requirement.
18 to 30 aligners
Your Fort Lauderdale Invisalign provider will determine how many trays you will wear over the course of your treatment before you even wear the first set. The range is around 18 to 30 aligners and the numbers differ to drastically because the more complicated your case, the trays you will have to wear. Each tray is designed to move a few certain teeth at a time, so every set of aligners is critical to the treatment as a whole.
2 weeks
Each set of trays is worn for about two weeks to ensure that the targeted teeth have moved where they need to go before shifting to the next portion of the treatment. Because two weeks isn’t a long time, it’s easy to slack on cleaning your trays properly or eat with them in – after all, you’ll be wearing fresh trays soon enough. But you want to get the full benefit of each set of trays so the teeth they’re focused on moving shift appropriately. One of the biggest benefits of Invisalign is that it’s clear and hard to see. If you eat or drink with your trays in place or do not clean them properly, they’ll become cloudy, discolored, and gross.
6 to 8 weeks
As an Invisalign patient, your treatment is closely monitored by your Fort Lauderdale Invisalign provider. Every six to eight weeks, you’ll visit your dentist for a check-up of your progress and to collect your next sets of aligners.
Are You a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
Transforming your smile with Invisalign can happen at nearly any age. Adults who have thought their teeth would never be straight invest in this discreet treatment so they can go about their daily life without interruption from obvious braces.
Find out if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Charmaine Johnson, Fort Lauderdale Invisalign provider at Premier Smile Center.
