How Long Does Invisalign Take?

Invisalign Duration at Art of Smile Philadelphia, PA

Despite our beliefs, a healthy and beautiful smile holds immense importance. It’s often the first thing noticed by others. If malocclusion or crooked teeth make you hesitant to show your smile, it can impact your self-esteem. Remember, this doesn’t diminish your worth. With Invisalign, the duration to a perfect smile is a journey worth taking, transforming not just your smile, but also how you feel about it.

Fortunately, Invisalign is a fantastic option for many patients, allowing them to smile with confidence once more. Nonetheless, it is important to keep in mind that the results will not be instantaneous. Instead, it can take some time for you to get the desired outcome that you want. If you were wondering about Invisalign and how soon it can give you the straight, attractive smile that you desire, Art of Smile – Center for Cosmetic Orthodontics can help shed some light on your questions and answer them for you.

What Is Invisalign?

Before we can start to dive into how Invisalign clear aligners work, it is important to first understand exactly how they work. Invisalign uses a set of clear, thermoplastic aligners to gradually and gently adjust the alignment of your teeth.

Unlike conventional braces, which can leave highly visible and even unsightly wires and brackets on your teeth, Invisalign is quite discreet. In fact, many people will not even be able to tell that you are wearing them.

Furthermore, unlike conventional dental braces, you do not need to wear Invisalign for 24 hours in a day. Instead, you can take them out for up to two hours per day. This means that if there arises a moment where you do need to remove them, you can take them out without needing to worry about causing lasting damage to your progress. Whether you want to simply enjoy a quick meal or you want to remove them for photographs, these are all options that are available to you.

How Long Does Invisalign Take To Work?

Every patient is unique, leading to variations in the Invisalign duration and treatment process. While the average Invisalign treatment spans about 12 months, this can differ significantly. Simple cases like closing a tooth gap might only require a few months, whereas more complex situations, such as severe overcrowding, could extend the Invisalign duration to 18 months or more.

The Treatment Process

Before we proceed with your treatment, we will start by creating an individualized treatment plan. This is something that we will discuss with you during your consultation. Once we know what course of action is best for you, we will then start by taking impressions of your teeth. These will be used to create your clear aligners. Those impressions will be sent to our lab, where custom molds of your teeth will be made.

It is essential to remember to not get discouraged if it takes longer for your teeth to adjust to the position that you want. Each new aligner will be used to gradually adjust your teeth. This can help ensure that any discomfort is minimized and the entire process goes as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. Typically, we will ask you to return to our office approximately every two weeks to change out your aligners. Over the course of your treatment, your teeth will gradually shift into position, revealing the smile you deserve.

Why Some Patients Might Need Longer Treatment

Not all cases will be the same, and you should bear in mind that you need to maintain reasonable expectations of your treatment. While some patients may get the results they want sooner, others may need to use their Invisalign clear aligners for a longer duration of time. Reasons that you may require a longer treatment time can include severe overcrowding, significant gaps between your teeth, and major malocclusion.

If you have severe overcrowding, we may need to remove one or more of your teeth before we can get started on your treatment. This can cause delays in your progress, but ultimately, it is in your own best interest. If your malocclusion is severe, it can also make your progress slower, as we will need to use more clear aligners to shift your teeth into the ideal position. Each appointment with us will get you one step closer to the smile you want. Finally, large gaps between your teeth may require more consistent, gentle care from our professionals.

Are You A Good Candidate For Invisalign?

Many people mistakenly believe that orthodontic treatment is something that is reserved exclusively for children or young adults. However, many patients can actually benefit from Invisalign clear aligners, regardless of their age. For our younger patients, undergoing early orthodontics can be incredibly vital to help ensure that the alignment of their permanent teeth is as ideal as possible. Even if you already have your permanent, adult teeth, you can still benefit from Invisalign.

We can help you better understand if you are a good candidate for Invisalign during your appointment. Some of the things that we consider is the alignment of your teeth, the severity of your malocclusion, and the health of your gums and teeth. If there are underlying concerns that need to be addressed first, we can discuss it with you. In turn, you can make any necessary changes to your teeth while in our care.

Many patients can benefit from Invisalign clear aligners, but it does require an appointment with our team of skilled dental professionals to determine if you can benefit from them.

To discover more about Invisalign Philadelphia and to determine if it’s the right choice for you, feel free to contact us at Art of Smile – Center for Cosmetic Orthodontics. Call us at (215) 800-0015 today. We are eager to meet you and assist in achieving your dream smile with the best of Philadelphia’s Invisalign solutions!