How Long Will I Have to Wear Invisalign®?
While you may understand that it will take some time for your Invisalign® aligners to move your teeth into straight rows, the actual length of the process varies according to the needs of the individual. In this blog, we’ll go over how many hours per day you need to wear your Invisalign® to achieve the best results and how long your overall treatment may take.
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What Is Invisalign®?
Invisalign® treatments use a series of clear aligners designed to straighten your teeth and correct your bite. They’re a great alternative to traditional braces because they are nearly invisible and offer you the flexibility to remove them when necessary. Thousands of people utilize the benefits of Invisalign® each year, and many of them share a common question: How long will I have to wear my Invisalign®?
When you begin your Invisalign® treatment, your dentist will tell you that for optimal results, you must wear your clear aligners for at least 22 hours every day. That may seem like a lot, but wearing them overnight and only removing them a few times a day to eat, drink, or brush your teeth makes it much more manageable.
Below, we review some of the factors that influence how long your Invisalign® treatment may take.
The Complexity of Your Alignment Issues
Invisalign® treatments use a series of custom-molded clear aligners to gently move your teeth into the correct position. Once your teeth have moved as much as possible in your current aligner, you move on to the next round of aligners. Depending on how quickly your teeth move, you will likely switch your aligners every one to two weeks.
On average, most people go through about 14-20 rounds of Invisalign® aligners for mild correction, 28-36 for moderate correction, and 36 (or more) for more complicated correction. Keep in mind that these are just estimates, and your dentist will let you know the specifics of how many trays you require to achieve optimal results.
The Distance Your Teeth Have to Move
If you have less crowding of your teeth or are correcting smaller gaps between your teeth, your Invisalign® treatment may be shorter than someone who requires more intense movement.
However, how quickly your teeth move also depends on things like age and genetics.
Younger people tend to have more malleable bones in their jaws, so their teeth will move more quickly. As you get older, bone density increases, making the process of moving your teeth take a bit longer.
How Compliant You Are With Your Treatment Plan
Wearing your Invisalign® aligners for 22 hours a day is essential to keeping your treatment on track. If you don’t wear your aligner trays enough, it takes longer for your teeth to shift. Therefore, it will be longer before you can move to the next set of trays.
Removing your aligners only when you eat, drink something other than water, or brush your teeth is the best way to ensure that your Invisalign® treatment schedule doesn’t need to be extended. However, don’t panic if you occasionally forget to reinsert the aligner—place it back in your mouth as soon as you remember, and you should be fine.
Learn More About Invisalign® in Schaumburg and Norridge
If you or your child want to reap the benefits of straight teeth without the hassle sometimes associated with traditional braces, Invisalign® may be the answer. To explore your Invisalign® options, contact our office today to schedule an appointment by calling (773) 232-3929 (Norridge) or (847) 999-7620 (Schaumburg) or complete the online contact form.