What Does the Invisalign Treatment Timeline Look Like?

Invisalign is one of the most popular dental treatments these days; more patients than ever before are turning toward the clear aligners to upgrade their smile! But since no two smiles are exactly the same, the treatment process looks a little different for every patient, including the expected timeline. Here’s what your dentist wants you to know about Invisalign treatment and how long it generally takes so that you can comfortably and confidently invest in a straighter future smile!

Factors That Influence the Invisalign Timeline

On average, the Invisalign process usually takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months; during this time, you’ll advance through several sets of trays that work to slowly shift your teeth into their intended and healthier position. This is much quicker than traditional braces, which can often take upwards of two years to fully transform your smile.

But it’s important to remember that everyone’s circumstances are different; some patients need minor corrections made to their teeth, while others need significant rearrangement. Factors such as the severity of your misalignment, whether it’s one or both arches that need straightening, the patient’s age, and the potential need for additional accessories all contribute to the overall length of the process.

It’s also worth mentioning that patients themselves play a large role in the process. With Invisalign, it’s expected that you wear the trays for roughly 22 hours each day; failure to do so will inevitably cause delays in your treatment that move the goalposts further back!

Tips for “Speeding Up” the Invisalign Process

Many patients wonder if they can accelerate the Invisalign process and reach the finish line sooner than anticipated, but the short answer here is no. There’s nothing you can do to necessarily “speed up” the process; however, you can take steps to keep things right on track so that there aren’t any setbacks! Here are some tips to help you out:

• Wear your aligners as instructed by your provider; you might experience a little discomfort at first, but this should lessen in time as you become used to wearing them.
• Take care of your aligners; remove them whenever you eat, keep them clean, and store them in their carrying case when they aren’t being worn.
• Be sure that you’re maintaining your oral hygiene throughout your treatment; be certain to brush after every meal and give your trays a deep cleaning once or twice a week.
• Advanced to your next set of trays only when instructed to do so—you can’t rush the process by advancing early!
• Keep up with your routine checkups to ensure everything stays on track.

Invisalign is a considerably faster option than traditional braces that delivers the same promising and beautiful results! Though you can’t speed things up yourself, you can still easily ensure that your new smile is delivered as quickly as intended.

About the Practice

The team at Stec & Stines Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is thrilled to provide an exceptional level of care for patients and families in the Grand Island, NE area! Under the leadership of Dr. CJ Stec, Dr. Jacob Stines, and Dr. Steven Stec, they offer a comprehensive range of services that are certain to help you achieve optimal oral health. If you have any questions about Invisalign or you’d like to arrange a visit, you can contact the practice online or over the phone for further assistance: (308) 646-2014.