Sep 12, 2022
Various aspects determine how long you’ll need to wear Invisalign during your treatment. Primarily, the number of hours you wear the prosthetic aligners in a day influences your duration of treatment. Your orthodontist may recommend you to undergo Invisalign treatment for 6 – 12 months, depending on your dental status. Your tooth alignment issues will determine how long the treatment will last.
Specialists recommend you wear Invisalign in Waco, TX, for longer than your kids since your child’s teeth can easily shift with treatment. Your teeth and jaws are less responsive, and you need to use a series of aligner trays to achieve desired outcomes.
How Long Do You Normally Need Invisalign?
Your treatment process and duration may vary based on the plan determined by your orthodontist. Your personalized needs also determine how long the treatment will take. Some of the factors to consider include:
- The extent to which your teeth need to shift to achieve the desired orthodontic outcome
- The distance your teeth need to shift to, and the greater the distance, the longer the treatment time
- Your pace of teeth shifting.
- The severity of your case. Complex cases require prolonged Invisalign treatment.
- Level of your compliance in wearing Invisalign for the recommended 22 hours daily. Failure to wear aligners long enough will require a longer treatment time for an effective alignment.
During the initial stages of Invisalign treatment, your specialist will examine your dental and determine the duration of your treatment. Additionally, your orthodontist will develop a treatment plan with the estimated time, periodic visits, and frequency of changing the aligner trays. If you wear Invisalign aligners as instructed, your treatment outcomes will turn out effective, and the duration of treatment will shorten.
What’s the Role of Retainers During Invisalign Treatment?
After Undergoing all the stages of Invisalign treatment, you may be reluctant to have any other oral prosthetics. However, it’s imperative to ensure the effects of Invisalign are long-lived and avoid teeth shifting back to their original undesired positions. The treatment goes unnoticeable since the aligners are invisible. However, with time, you’ll experience discomfort as your teeth shift.
Additionally, retainers enhance consistent results after your Invisalign treatment since they are custom-made to fit your teeth perfectly. Your teeth can slightly shift once aligners are removed and once you complete treatment. For this reason, specialists recommend using retainers to hold teeth in new positions due to the routine wear and tear on your teeth as you bite down or chew. Retainers are specially designed to maintain your beautiful smile after treatment.
Do You Have to Wear Invisalign Your Whole Life?
After 12 months of treatment, your teeth should have shifted to the desired positions and a new bone deposited around your teeth. Therefore, you don’t need to wear aligners for a lifetime. Additionally, you can wear orthodontic retainers to hold the shifted teeth in place and maintain your straightened smile.
Your dentist may recommend your Invisalign procedures to work within 6-12 months and wear retainers 3-5 times weekly. Invisalign treatment is gradual, and once your jawbone regains bone tissue, it’ll slightly shift forward and inward with age. However, the changes aren’t noticeable in one night.
How to Ensure Positive Outcomes for Invisalign
To get better results for Invisalign in Waco, TX, you need to observe the following tips:
- Put on Invisalign aligners for 20 – 22 hours daily and consistently
- Brush your teeth after meals before wearing aligners
- Schedule dental appointments for examinations on your treatment progress and inform your dentist if you have any discomfort or pain
- Ensure you find the treatment from experienced specialists
Is Invisalign Ideal for You?
Invisalign procedures may effectively align your dental and address oral malocclusions and other dental issues. Some teeth may move effortlessly, especially for your child, and some require prolonged treatment. Undergoing a dental examination is the surest way to tell whether the treatment will work for you.
The duration needed varies with both your personalized needs and dental case. At Hillcrest Dental Care, we recommend Invisalign since it’s a viable solution for a perfect smile. We advise you to wear aligners for 22 hours daily to achieve desired results within a short time. Please vis our specialists today and undergo teeth alignment today!
FAQs
In general, Invisalign treatment typically takes anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to achieve the desired teeth alignment. It is essential to note that consistent and diligent wear of the aligners for the recommended duration maximizes the efficiency of the treatment, resulting in optimal outcomes.
How long do you really need to wear Invisalign? ›
Invisalign treatment can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months, depending on the patient's situation.
Do I need to wear Invisalign forever? ›
No, Invisalign treatment isn't a lifelong process. It typically lasts for around 6-18 months, after which your aligners will be replaced with retainers to keep your teeth in place. Shrug off those thoughts of “how can I quit Invisalign early” – it's worth sticking with the treatment because it won't last forever.
What is the least amount of time you can wear Invisalign? ›
However, the aligners are only effective when they're in physical contact with teeth. Because of that, Invisalign strongly recommends that the trays are worn for at least 20 to 22 hours per day.
Does Invisalign really take 2 years? ›
The average Invisalign treatment lasts for around 10-18 months. This varies from person to person, and it's not unusual for treatments to last longer or finish earlier than expected. Some people only need 6 months of treatment, while others may need 24 months worth of Invisalign.
What's the longest you can go without wearing Invisalign? ›
The general rule is that you can leave your Invisalign out for up to 8 hours at a time. If you're going to be out for longer than that, it's best to check with your dentist first. You should not leave your aligners out overnight or while sleeping.
How long can I take my Invisalign off for? ›
You shouldn't leave your Invisalign off for longer than 3-4 hours each day, and not in one go. Anything longer will disrupt your treatment and may cause your teeth to revert to their original positions. Dentists recommend keeping your aligners in for 20-22 hours daily.
Can you ever stop using Invisalign? ›
– Stopping Invisalign prematurely can lead to a reversal of progress and dental complications. – Wearing a retainer post-treatment is crucial to maintain the new position of teeth and prevent unpredictability in tooth movement.
When should I stop using Invisalign? ›
Quitting your Invisalign treatment early is never advisable, but you shouldn't simply stop wearing your aligners one day. Always consult with your dentist if you're having doubts or complaints about the treatment. They'll try to put your mind at ease and encourage you to stick with it.
Is Invisalign a lifetime commitment? ›
The answer is a resounding yes. Invisalign is designed to be a permanent solution, but there is a small catch. Whether you correct your teeth with braces or Invisalign, there's always the potential that they can shift back after your treatment. So, our rule of thumb is that your results are only as good as your habits.
You may have heard that using aligner chewies can help to speed up your Invisalign or clear aligner treatment. This is partially true. The proper fit of an aligner is essential for effective treatment. Because chewies can help improve an aligner's fit, using them can help ensure that your treatment proceeds as planned.
What is the 5 year guarantee on Invisalign? ›
The Invisalign brand offers a 5-year warranty if the desired results are not achieved by the end of the planned orthodontic treatment. This means that you will be provided with new aligners, free of charge.
Do you lose weight on Invisalign? ›
Can Invisalign® Aligners Assist With Weight Loss? The general scientific consensus is that there is no link between tooth aligners and weight loss. Some patients may experience minor weight fluctuation while wearing the trays, but this also includes minor weight gain as well as minor weight loss.
What don't they tell you about Invisalign? ›
Water should be your first and only choice. One of the worst mistakes any Invisalign wearer can make is to drink anything other than water whilst wearing their Invisalign. The sugary drinks have the ability to cause decay to your teeth during this treatment as well as possibly staining your aligners.
What words are hard to say with Invisalign? ›
Invisalign trays alter the space within your mouth slightly, affecting how your tongue moves against your teeth and the roof of your mouth. Here's a list of sounds and words that Invisalign wearers often find tricky: Sibilants: Words with 's' and 'z' sounds, such as “sassy,” “sun,” “zinc,” and “buzz.”
How long do you have to wear Invisalign after getting it done? ›
During Invisalign treatment, your jawbone would have softened or disappeared so the teeth could shift into their final positions. The first three to six months after you finish your aligners, you will need to wear retainers for 22 hours a day to hold teeth in place while new bone is deposited.
Do teeth stay straight after Invisalign? ›
After Invisalign treatment, teeth can stay aligned if patients wear their retainer and don't neglect their oral hygiene. Common reasons for teeth to shift or orthodontic relapse after Invisalign treatment include: not wearing retainers as prescribed, poor oral hygiene habits and injury.
Do you ever get used to wearing Invisalign? ›
Most patients adjust to the feeling of wearing their aligners within one to two weeks – but persistent use is key. The more you wear your aligners, the quicker you'll get used to them.
What happens if I leave my Invisalign out for 8 hours? ›
Missing even just a single day of wearing your Invisalign can damage your teeth. Without a total 22 hours of treatment, your teeth will automatically begin to revert to their original positions. This means your treatment will take longer, potentially costing you a lot more.
