If you’ve just begun aligning your smile with the help of Invisalign, you’re probably eager to complete your treatment and start showcasing that new and improved grin. But not so fast! Your aligners still need time to work their magic. If you’re curious about how long you can expect to sport your new trays, here are a few factors that will help your dentist determine when your treatment will be complete, and what you can do to help encourage it to stay on track.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, most Invisalign treatments take between 12 and 18 months. However, there are many factors that go into determining the length of your individual timeline. Things such as the severity of your crowding or bite, your age, the size of any gaps between your teeth, and even your compliance with treatment can all affect the duration.
How Can I Make My Invisalign Treatment Go Faster?
While there’s no guarantee that you can do anything to make your treatment end earlier or even on schedule, there are a few ways you can ensure that you’re doing everything you can to stay on track. These include:
- Meeting your minimum wear time: For Invisalign to work, you’ll need to wear your aligners 22 hours each day; this means that you should only have them off for two hours a day, during meals and to clean your teeth, gums and trays. Exceeding this time can push your timeline back.
- Doing your bite exercises: If your dentist has recommended bite exercises, make sure to do them as prescribed. These will help encourage your teeth to move into their new alignment on schedule. Failure to do so could keep stubborn teeth in place longer than predicted.
- Caring for your teeth: Don’t neglect your oral health during Invisalign treatment. Be sure to brush after each meal or beverage (besides water), and floss well after each meal. Never wear your aligners when you’re eating or drinking anything but room temperature water. Needing a crown or filling mid-treatment can delay your results, especially if new trays need to be made to accommodate dental work.
- Caring for your aligners: In addition to keeping your aligners clean, be sure to store them properly when you’re not wearing them, so you don’t damage or lose them. While it is always possible to replace a tray, doing so can delay your ability to advance to the next set on schedule and delay your results.
Remember, Invisalign treatment typically gets much faster results than traditional braces, however, for your teeth to move on schedule, you’ll need to do your part to help them. While there’s no surefire way to guarantee that you’ll finish on time, by following these tips you’ll give your smile the best odds for staying on track!
About Our Practice
At Lyndon Family Dental, our team of amazing dentists may not be able to predict the future, but they can certainly give you a good estimate of when your Invisalign treatment will be done. If you’re looking for a faster, more discreet way to align your smile than traditional methods, Invisalign can help.
To learn more about this innovative orthodontic treatment and to find out how fast you can have a smile you can be proud of, please schedule a consultation with us today by visiting our website or calling us at 315-449-0711.