How Long Does Invisalign Take?

In this short guide, we’re going to explore some of the factors that will impact treatment times for Invisalign patients. As with all orthodontic advice, we can only offer general support. If you would like a personalised assessment, please book an appointment with our orthodontics team so we can offer a more accurate estimate.

How long does Invisalign take?

Invisalign can take as little as 6 months, or it can take upwards of 2 years. Treatment times will depend on a number of factors, including:

The severity of the case to be addressed. This is the top indicator of how long treatment will take. If teeth are more severely misaligned, it will take longer to complete the treatment. For mild orthodontic cases, treatment can be completed fairly quickly.

Treatment compliance is another key indicator. Patients need to wear their aligners for the minimum time per day, and failing to do this can delay the treatment plan. Repeated failure to wear the aligners can even cause the treatment plan to fail.

If extractions are required, this could delay the start of the treatment plan. This could make the overall treatment last longer, but it won’t necessarily extend the time wearing the aligners.

Can I speed up my treatment?

There isn’t any way to speed up Invisalign treatment, as it’s important for the teeth to move at a rate that allows the supporting structures to keep up. If you are interested in an accelerated treatment plan, the best option would be to choose to focus on a smaller area.

Invisalign Lite allows us to focus on the top front teeth that are visible when you smile, which can deliver the aesthetic results of orthodontic treatment, without treating all of the teeth. This is perfect for those who might have mild orthodontic issues who are looking for fast results.

When will I know how long treatment will take?

The only way to know how long your treatment will take is to book an appointment with an orthodontist. We will scan your teeth using the iTero scanner, which allows us to plot the optimum movement for each tooth. Using this powerful technology, we can give you an indication of how many Invisalign trays will be required to straighten your teeth, which will also give us a time estimate.

This technology can also allow us to mock up your future smile, so you can see exactly what you are working towards. This kind of visual motivation is highly effective for helping patients to stay on track with their treatment.

The Invisalign difference

One key factor to remember about Invisalign treatment times is that the plan is very flexible and adaptable to your lifestyle. This means that patients often don’t mind longer treatment plans, since the lightweight and removable aligners don’t interfere with everyday life. 

You can still eat all of your favourite foods, you can play sports, and you don’t have to adopt any new brushing routines to care for your teeth. The aligners are also nearly invisible, so you won’t have to feel self-conscious about wearing them. 

If you’re thinking about orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign or other clear aligner plans, get in touch with our team. We can help guide you through the process, show you how your teeth could look after treatment, and give you a realistic timeline of how long you can expect to wait to achieve perfectly straight teeth.