How Long Does It Take for Invisible Aligners to Work?

Invisalign clear aligners are designed to fit your teeth perfectly and can help straighten your teeth in as little as 12 months! Learn more about how long it takes for invisible aligners to work from an expert's perspective.

How Long Does It Take for Invisible Aligners to Work?

It takes people who use Invisalign, on average, less than two years to see results, and it can take up to six months. Of course, every smile is different and may take more or less time, depending on what you need. Treatment time is directly related to the complexity of the problem you want to address. The Invisalign system uses these clear aligners to slowly push teeth to their natural position.

Each of your Invisalign sets (or trays) will be changed to a new one every two weeks (or recommended by your orthodontist). You'll need to visit your orthodontist or dentist again every four to six weeks to make sure your Invisalign treatment is working. If patients continue to wear their aligners for the recommended 22 hours a day, they will get faster results. In any case, Invisalign can help you have a clearer smile, and it doesn't take as long as you think.

Most people start seeing results after the first few weeks of using Invisalign clear aligners, and the total duration of treatment only lasts an average of 12 months. Once treatment is complete, using a retainer will help prevent your new smile from moving out of place. In some cases, the jaw is too big and the teeth are too small, making it difficult to completely close your gaps. The dentist may recommend other forms of treatment after Invisalign, such as placing adhesives or veneers.

In addition, Invisalign alignment trays don't break as easily as wire snaps onto metal supports. When a tear occurs, this can delay treatment and, with traditional orthodontic appliances, this can happen frequently. While the aligner trays can break, it doesn't happen very often, as long as you're careful with the aligners. The average time it takes for Invisalign to straighten your teeth is about 12 months.

You may need more or less time. Your orthodontist will review your progress during your regular visits. If you have a very mild crowding of teeth, it may only take six months to correct it. However, in situations of severe overcrowding, your orthodontist will continue to provide you with aligners until your teeth are straight.

Invisalign clear aligners are designed to fit your teeth perfectly, so this shouldn't be a cause for concern. The length of treatment with aligners will vary from person to person, but you will need to wear the aligners for approximately 22 hours each day throughout the process. Unlike other brands, Invisalign clear aligners are made of patented SmartTrack material which is more comfortable and provides a better fit. The aligners may be a little tight at first or if you've had to take them out all day for a special occasion but there are devices that can help you position the aligners correctly.

Aligner treatment consists of a series of clear aligners; each pair is normally worn for 10-14 days before changing to the next. This is another great benefit of clear aligner treatment: there are a few things you can do to make sure your treatment time is as short as possible. Now that you know what treatment with clear aligners entails, let's see how long it all takes to work. Your doctor will tell you how long you should wear your aligners each day but people generally use their Invisalign aligners 20-22 hours a day for the best results.

Invisalign clear aligners are virtually invisible; people may not even notice you're wearing them! The best way to know if clear aligners are the right choice for you is to visit a qualified dentist for a consultation. Studies like this have shown that treatment with clear aligners may be faster than orthodontic appliances but it may also be less effective in certain cases. More than 13 million people have used Invisalign clear aligners to transform their smiles - including more than 3 million teens! Yes, Invisalign clear aligners can treat almost all common teeth straightening problems - from simple to complex. Your Vivera retainers will be custom made from an impression or scan of your teeth using the same cutting-edge technology used for Invisalign clear aligners.

Invisalign clear aligners are made of patented SmartTrack material that moves your teeth comfortably and predictably.

Brandon Lewis
Brandon Lewis

Passionate About Dentistry and Oral Health. Hardcore beer advocate. Infuriatingly humble tv enthusiast. Subtly charming social media evangelist. Unapologetic thinker. I always smile.