Most people are aware that Invisalign is a method of orthodontia that involves wearing a series of clear trays over your teeth to straighten them. But there are plenty of other details that set Invisalign apart from traditional braces, and many of them involve a numbers game.
Half the Time
In many cases, Invisalign can take half the time of traditional braces to straighten teeth – about nine to 15 months, with an average of about 12 months. But Invisalign only works when you’re wearing your aligners. While the length of your treatment depends on how quickly your teeth shift, the speed of your treatment also depends on how conscientious you are about your dentist’s customized treatment plan for you.
Six Weeks
With Invisalign, there is no need to visit your dentist every few weeks for tightening of brackets and wires or for repairs. When wearing Invisalign, you will be expected to visit your dentist about every six weeks to make sure the treatment is advancing as it should and to receive new sets of aligners to maintain the straightening
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Two Weeks
Each set of Invisalign aligners is worn for approximately two weeks. Again, this timeline can vary depending on your dentist’s customized treatment plan. Because each aligner is designed to move specific teeth and not all of them at one time, and because Invisalign is intended to move your teeth at a consistent and gentle pace, your dentist may advise wearing some aligners for longer than two weeks and some for less than 14 days. Always follow your dentist’s recommendations and the specific plan that they have formulated for your orthodontic treatment.
20 hours
Invisalign should be worn for about 20-22 hours a day, only being removed for eating, brushing, and flossing. This means your aligners should only be removed about four to six times a day. While it may seem like a challenge to maintain this kind of schedule, you will eventually get used to wearing Invisalign, plus you’ll realize that you don’t have the same kind of diet restrictions as wearers of traditional braces, and that’s a joyous thing.
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18 to 30
The average Invisalign patient will wear between 18 and 30 aligners during the course of their treatment. This number will vary from person to person based on the position your teeth are in now and where you want them to be. Your dentist will determine the number of aligners you’ll be wearing at the start of your treatment.
Philadelphia Dentistry is a Premier Preferred Provider for Invisalign. Contact Philadelphia Dentistry to schedule your free consultation, discover your ideal smile makeover treatment, and get on the path to a straight, beautiful smile.
Learn more about Invisalign in this video featuring one of our Invisalign patients: