I Need Straight Teeth: The Invisalign Timeline
Mt. Laurel Dental & Implant Center • Jan 16, 2020
If you've dreamed about having perfectly straight teeth, then you have probably checked out Invisalign. Read more to learn about the Invisalign timeline.
Every year nearly 1.5 million adults go to their dentist to discuss getting braces. This is hardly surprising - having perfectly straight teeth is commonplace across most of America. In fact, around four million people in America wear braces to straighten their teeth.
Because of this, there are now more teeth-straightening options than ever, including Invisalign. These braces mean that you can straighten your teeth without you having to wear traditional train tracks. This makes them a popular option with adults looking for braces.
One of the other benefits of Invisalign is how quickly they can work. Want to know more? Then you're in the right place!
Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Invisalign timeline and what can affect this.
For Long Do You Wear Invisalign For?
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign uses a series of clear plastic trays to straighten your teeth. However, the principle behind this process is similar to that of traditional braces.
To begin with, your dentist
will have a consultation to discuss your treatment. They will then take a series of molds of your teeth. These are used to create custom-made trays for your mouth.
Each tray works by encouraging your teeth to shift into a new position. Once one tray fits your teeth perfectly, your dentist will give you a new tray that will keep your teeth moving into their next position. This continues until your teeth are finally straight.
Some people have to wear more trays than others depending on the position of their teeth.
Once your teeth appear straight your dentist will ask you to keep wearing your trays for a while. This helps to keep your teeth in their new position.
Most people wear each tray for between four and six weeks. You will not notice a difference in your teeth straight away, even after you have worn your first tray for a while. After three or four months, your teeth will start to appear straighter.
In general, the Invisalign treatment
time is around a year long. However, in some cases, you may have to wear your trays for longer. Let's take a look at why.
Can Anything Affect the Invisalign Timeline?
Some patients have to wear their Invisalign braces for longer than others. This can be due to several reasons.
The older you get, the longer it takes for your teeth to move. This means that older patients may have to wear their Invisalign trays longer than younger ones.
You also have some control over how long the process takes by wearing your trays as much as possible. Unlike traditional braces, you can remove your trays when you like. Most dentists recommend just doing this when eating and when cleaning your teeth.
If you're wondering how long to wear your Invisalign trays for, most dentists will tell you to aim for 22 hours a day. If you do decide to take your trays out regularly or to keep them out, this will slow down the process. You should always make sure that you wear your tray overnight.
Unfortunately, some factors that can affect the Invisalign treatment time are out of your control. For example, you cannot control the type of alignment issue that you are trying to correct. More severe issues will take longer to correct because your teeth have further to move.
To understand this better, let's take a look at the types of alignment issues that Invisalign can correct.
How Does Your Alignment Affect Invisalign Braces?
There are two main types of alignment issues that Invisalign can help with: crowded teeth and gapping. These are polar opposites of one another.
Overcrowding occurs when your teeth sit close together and cross over or push into one another. In contrast, gapping occurs when your teeth sit apart leaving (you guessed it!) gaps between them.
The more severe your alignment issue, the longer it will take to correct. However, crowding generally takes longer to correct than gapping.
Mild cases of teeth crowding can be resolved in about six months using Invisalign and more severe cases will take longer. In some cases, your dentist may also recommend removing some teeth at the back of your mouth to create more space.
It is possible to fix mild cases of gapping in just eight weeks using Invisalign! Even severe cases will take much less than a year to fix.
With a gapping alignment, your dentist may recommend using a retainer to prevent them from shifting apart again in the future.
Which is Quicker: Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces?
If you have already spoken to your dentist about traditional braces, you will already know that Invisalign is the quickest option by far. In fact, Invisalign treatments generally take half the time of traditional braces for the same results!
On top of this, wearing Invisalign means you are less likely to encounter issues that could slow down the teeth straightening process. For example, with traditional braces, if you damage a bracket or break the wire this will stop the braces from working properly. You will need to make a separate appointment with your dentist to get them working again.
In contrast, Invisalign trays are designed to be taken in and out and are very durable. You can also clean them easily and they come with a box to store them safely when you're not wearing them.
Get Help From a Dentist Today!
As you can see from the Invisalign timeline, this is a great option for anyone considering adult braces. Invisalign is a discreet, hygiene, and quick way to get perfectly straight teeth!
To book in a consultation with your dentist about Invisalign, get in touch today. We're here to help!
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