How Long Does Invisalign Take?
How long does Invisalign® take? There are various factors that will determine your exact treatment timeline. For some patients with minor crowding, treatment may just be a few months, while patients with more severe misalignment and crooked teeth may require more than a year for the completion of the treatment. During a consultation at Astoria Dental Group in Queens, Dr. Carmen Every-Degel will fully examine your bite, discuss your goals, and give you an estimate of how long the Invisalign treatment may take.
The Consultation
During a consultation, we will fully evaluate your bite and determine if you are a good candidate for this type of treatment. Every bite is different, and therefore, we must customize your plan based on your concerns and what you would like to accomplish.
Although each patient will be given a different timeline, the majority of treatment timelines will range from 12 to 18 months.
With Invisalign, we can treat a wide range of conditions, including crowding, misalignment, overbite, underbite, open bite, and crossbite. At this time, Dr. Every-Degel can give you an estimated timeline, discuss with you exactly how the treatment will work, and then set up the next appointment.
Preparation
During your follow-up appointment, we will take a series of digital scans or create physical impressions of your teeth, which will then be used to create your custom aligners. At this time, Dr. Every-Degel can provide you with more details on the timeframe, and give you more information on exactly how Invisalign will slowly shift your teeth into proper position.
Fitting and Adjustments
The fabrication of the aligners will typically require anywhere between three to six weeks, at which point you will return to our office for fitting and adjustments. At this time, your doctor will ensure that they are comfortable and fit snugly over your teeth. You will receive further instructions, detailing how long each day the retainers should be worn, cleaning instructions, and proper maintenance.
Six-Week Checkups
Once you receive your new aligners, we recommend that you wear them for at least 20 hours per day. As you continue to wear them, your teeth will slowly begin shifting into proper position. Every other week you will receive a new set of aligners, which will replace your old ones. We will continue to provide you with a new set of trays throughout the course of the treatment. After about six weeks, we recommend you schedule a follow-up so that we can examine the progress and then make any necessary adjustments.
Results Following 12 to 18 Months
Although each patient will be given a different timeline, the majority of treatments will range from 12 to 18 months. Once the treatment is completed, the doctor may also recommend a retainer, which can be used to help you maintain your straighter smile.
Schedule an Appointment to Determine Your Timeline
Without a full examination, we can only give you a broad timeline for Invisalign treatment. We recommend that you schedule a consultation to get more details and a better estimate. To get started, please give us a call at (718) 278-1123 or send us a message directly from the website.
