Gone are those days where people with crooked teeth had no option but to use metal braces and headgears just to correct the alignment of their teeth. Now, many teens and adults are using clear aligners, of which Invisalign is the most popular brand
Without installing metal hardware, you can use aligners to correct the shape and alignment of your teeth. The delicate appearance of this tool makes it great for both adults and teenagers who do not want to be seen with braces. Aligners are increasingly becoming popular as an orthodontic treatment because people like the fact that it is clear and almost invisible.
This teeth alignment solution is recommended by top orthodontic specialists across the globe. While many are turning to this solution, many that are yet to use it are wondering how long it takes for aligners to work. Interestingly, the amount of time it takes to work depends on several factors and it varies from one tooth condition to another. On average, it takes less than 24 months for people using Invisalign to see results. Some people see impressive results as quickly as six months. In a lot of correctly diagnosed cases, with good patient compliance, aligners will work faster than fixed braces.
What Is the Treatment Duration of Aligner Therapy?
Have you been using Invisalign for a few weeks without seeing any notable change? Do you want to know how long you need to wear an Invisalign before you start using it? Has your orthodontist recommended this solution for you but you still want to know how long it will take before you start seeing notable results? How long will it take for Invisalign to work?
As earlier mentioned, the duration of this treatment varies and it depends on a couple of factors. If you do not have a complicated case, you will get your desired results around six months of treatment. However, those with complicated alignment needs might need to use the device for up to 24 months before they will get their desired results.
Nevertheless, before using this tool, you should have in mind that the average treatment period is about 12 months. But, the good thing about this alignment solution is that you will start seeing notable changes a couple of weeks after you start using it. The initial result might not be that notable to others, but after four to six weeks of using it, you will start noticing some changes.
However, you should have in mind that not all patients are the same. You might start experiencing notable changes much quicker than someone else might. It can also take a longer time for you to see noticeable changes than your friend that is undergoing the same treatment. Different people with different teeth conditions react to this treatment in different ways. If your case is not complicated, you might not need to wear this gear for a long time.
Factors That Cause Disparity in Treatment Time
Every human has a unique mouth, just the way our fingerprints are not the same. As a result, it is difficult to tell exactly how long an orthodontic treatment can take. People with minor correction needs might stop using this clear aligner as early as six months while it can take others up to 24 months to stop using it. Here are some factors that cause variation in treatment duration.
Gaps in Teeth
Diastemata, which is the term for gaps between teeth, is usually a result of overgrown tissue or when the jawbone is bigger than the teeth. Gaps in teeth are even of two kinds – severe gaps and minor gaps. It will take lesser time to fix minor gaps; severe gaps will take longer time. If you have severe or moderate gaps couple with other teeth conditions such as crowding, your treatment time might take up to 18 months.
Some patients might conditions such as smaller teeth with larger jaws, and this might make it a bit challenging to close the gaps fully. If you have such a condition, your orthodontist might recommend other treatment types after Invisalign, such as veneers or bonding.
Crowded Teeth
If you have larger teeth or a small jaw, you might have misaligned teeth because of crowding. Fortunately, if your teeth crowding case is minor, it can be corrected as early as six months. For moderate teeth crowding cases, the treatment duration can take up to 12 months.
The more teeth crowding you have, the longer your treatment duration will be because your teeth need more time to move closer and align. If your case is extreme, your orthodontist might recommend other treatment solutions in addition to Invisalign.
Age
This clear aligner is ideal for both adults and teenagers. Nevertheless, your age will also play a role in how fast this solution will work. Teenagers are still developing, so they tend to experience faster and easier teeth movement than adults. The movement of teeth also varies from one person to another, as the teeth of some people move much faster than others, regardless of their age.
Some adults might experience notable changes faster than their kids. No one is too old to use this clear aligner, as it delivers exceptional results regardless of how old you are. The only difference is how long the treatment will take.
Compliance to Treatment
This is one of the major determinants of how long you will wear this aligner. Even when your teeth require minimal correction, failing to wear the Invisalign as recommended by your dentist can extend your treatment duration significantly. You need to stick to the plan of your dentist in order to achieve a better result.
Dentists recommend you wear your Invisalign for a minimum of 22 hours a day to achieve the best results. You can remove it when you want to brush your teeth, eat, or clean them. Besides those activities, you should not remove them for any other reason – it should be in your mouth all day, even while you are sleeping.
Conclusion
When applying this solution to your crowded, crooked, or misaligned teeth, remember that no two mouths are created equal. Everyone responds to treatment differently and yours might be much faster or it might take a long time. In all, you should consult only the best orthodontic specialists and adhere to your treatment plan.