Invisalign has transformed the smiles of millions of teens and adults in the U.S. Using patented align technology, Invisalign is comparable in cost to traditional metal bracket braces but may deliver results faster. On average, it takes about one year to straighten your teeth with Invisalign. Patients with minor imperfections may only need Invisalign for a few months, while others may require treatment for 18 months.
What Conditions Does Invisalign Treat Most Effectively?
Invisalign is effective in treating mild to moderate orthodontic conditions. Patients with severe malocclusions (overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite) may be best suited for traditional braces. Likewise, those with significant gaps in teeth may require traditional braces.
Invisalign is excellent at treating bite and alignment issues including:
- Mild to moderate gaps in teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Slanted teeth (teeth sitting at an angle)
- Mild to moderate overbite, underbite, open bite, or crossbite
Depending on your unique condition, Invisalign may require the use of elastics (rubber bands), or Invisalign SmartForce attachments (AKA “buttons”) to guide teeth into proper position. Invisalign may also be equipped with mandibular advancement (wings) to gently push the lower jaw forward.
What Determines How Long I Will Need Invisalign?
The severity of the imperfections that you are correcting will play a determining role in how long your treatment will last. For example, if you only need to straighten a few slanted teeth, or close a small gap, your treatment is likely to be six months or less. Conversely, if you have malocclusion, gaps, and misaligned teeth, your treatment may take more than one year.
The second factor that will impact the duration of your treatment is patient compliance. Unlike traditional braces that are bonded to the teeth, Invisalign patients are in control of their treatment. Patients who wear their alignment trays as prescribed (20-22 hours each day) will finish their treatment faster than patients who fail to wear the trays at all times except when eating.
Because teenagers can be forgetful, Invisalign offers compliance indicators for Invisalign Teen. These are tiny blue dots on the back of the trays that, when worn as prescribed, will fade away. When the trays are not being worn as prescribed, the blue dots remain. These blue dots are helpful in ensuring compliance with the prescribed treatment plan.
The third factor that may play a role in how long Invisalign will take to correct an alignment or bite issue is your age at treatment time. During adolescence, the jaw and teeth are more flexible, so they tend to respond to alignment trays faster. As an adult, the bone is denser and less flexible, so it may take a bit longer to align teeth in adults, than it does for teens.
Frequently Asked Questions about Invisalign
Does it Hurt to Get Invisalign?
No. We use digital impressions and images that are putty-free, so even those with a sensitive gag reflex will find the noninvasive imaging process painless. The smooth plastic Invisalign trays are non-abrasive, so they won’t irritate the soft tissues inside the mouth. Once you begin wearing your trays, and as you graduate to the next series, you may experience a sensation of pressure as your teeth shift into their new alignment.
How Do I Know if Invisalign is Right for Me?
Schedule a consultation at Lindenwold Dental Center. During your consultation, Dr. Said will evaluate your jaw, bite, and alignment to confirm that Invisalign is an appropriate treatment, and to ensure you do not have any oral health conditions that need immediate treatment before beginning Invisalign.
Schedule an Invisalign Consultation in Lindenwold, NJ
At Lindenwold Dental Center, Dr. Said is Invisalign and Minimal Tooth Movement (MTM) certified. He has years of experience successfully treating both adults and teens with Invisalign. To schedule a consultation for Invisalign or Invisalign Teen in Lindenwold, NJ call 856-783-3777 or send us a message to request an appointment.