One of the most common questions about clear aligners is how long treatment will take. The honest answer is that it varies from person to person.
What affects treatment time?
- The complexity of your case: minor spacing or crowding may take months, while more complex bite corrections can take considerably longer.
- Wear time: aligners only move teeth while they are worn. Most plans need 20 to 22 hours a day. Leaving them out regularly can slow progress or cause teeth to move back.
- Changing aligners on schedule: moving to the next set too early or too late can affect how teeth track.
- Refinements: some people need additional aligners partway through or at the end of treatment.
The digital plan is an estimate
Your dentist will show you a digital plan with a proposed number of aligners and estimated duration.
After treatment
Teeth tend to move back after orthodontic treatment, so retainers are needed long term as directed by your dentist.
Find out more about orthodontics and Invisalign, including the risks of treatment.
Related reading
- Orthodontics and Invisalign at North Ryde Dentistry
- Braces: How They Work and What to Expect
- Can I Get My Teeth Cleaned While Wearing Braces?
This article is general information only and does not replace advice from your own dentist. Whether a treatment is suitable for you can only be decided after an examination. All dental treatment carries risks, and results vary from person to person.
Related at North Ryde Dentistry: our North Ryde dental clinic