So you’ve decided it’s time to straighten your teeth. No one should hide their smile, after all. But where do you start? You’ve heard about Invisalign and how it has become one of the most popular orthodontic solutions these days. But you still have some nagging questions that need to be answered first. Some of these being, how long do you usually have Invisalign aligners for? Will aligners do the trick? Do I wear them all day long?

Not only do aligners look more aesthetically pleasing than metal braces, often, they will also produce the desired result much sooner too. Now that’s what we call a bonus. Invisalign treatment time will depend on many different factors, but the most crucial factor is how many hours a day you end up wearing your aligners. So being strict and following your doctor’s guidance is key to keeping your treatment time on track. 

While most treatment plans range from 6-18 months, metal braces average at two years. Of course, everyone’s treatment plan is unique because everyone’s teeth and alignment issues are different. For example, usually, you’ll find a teenager won’t have treatment as long as an adult does because their jaws and teeth are more responsive to pressure.

This post answers the questions: how long is a typical Invisalign treatment?, how long do you usually have Invisalign?, and why do treatment times vary so much?  

How Do Invisalign Aligners Work?

Invisalign treatment allows your teeth to be gently adjusted into position by using a series of clear, custom-fit aligner trays. Your trays will need to change throughout your treatment until you have reached your desired result. 

Because they are transparent, most people won’t even notice you are wearing aligners, offering a minimal impact on your day-to-day life. And if you can’t stand to wear them to an important event, just take them out. However, it’s always best to consult your doctor first. 

How Long Is A Typical Invisalign Treatment?

If you’re wondering, how long is the Invisalign treatment? The length of your treatment, as with most things, will depend on many factors. How complex your case is, your goals of treatment and if you keep your aligners in for the recommended 22 hours a day for starters. 

On average, comprehensive Invisalign treatment time is 12-18 months. This means regular appointments with your doctor to make sure your teeth are improving as planned. These appointments will usually include a change of aligners based on your personalized treatment plan. Sometimes they may change as often as every 4 days to weekly.  

How Long Do I Have To Wear An Invisalign Aligner?

You’ve heard the number. Your aligners need to be worn 22 hours a day. That’s basically the whole day, and that means while you are sleeping too. You can, of course, take them out to eat, brush, and floss, but don’t forget to put them back in. It’s essential to get on board and wear your aligners for the 22 hours, otherwise, you will delay the date your treatment will be complete. 

Why 22 hours? Aligners are more extended to put constant pressure on your teeth to slowly move them into the correct place. If you’re not wearing them, your teeth will start to shift back to their original position. So if you don’t keep them in, they won’t do their job, and your goal of having straight teeth will take longer to achieve.  

What if I skip a day? It probably won’t be problematic, but if you have a special event coming up and you know you will feel more comfortable leaving your aligners at home, chat to your doctor and see what they advise. 

Why Does Invisalign Treatment Length Vary So Much?

We’ve mentioned treatment time varying from between 6 and 18 months – that’s a big difference in time. Why? Ultimately, the time it takes the aligners to straighten your teeth depends on how complex your dental issues are and whether you keep them in for the recommended 22 hours a day. The variables that affect the treatment length include:

Distance to cover: How much your teeth need to move plays a role in the length of your treatment.

Bone structure: Your genetics and bone structure will determine how susceptible your teeth are to moving.

Complex issues: If you have complicated teeth issues and they need to shift a lot.

Keeping them in: Whether you wear your aligners for the recommended time each day or not.

Unwanted spacing: If your aligners are being used to close gaps and spaces of about 6mm, you’ll find a much longer treatment time is on the cards – most likely 24 months. But small gaps can take just six weeks to sort out. 

Crowded teeth: Evening out mildly crowded teeth can take about 6-12 months. But severe cases won’t suit Invisalign as a treatment plan. 

Remember that moving your teeth will take time, especially if you want to make it a comfortable journey. No solution will be instant, but Invisalign is one of the quickest, most comfortable and easily adjustable orthodontic options.  

How We Can Help

Advanced Orthodontics is proud to be a top 1% Invisalign provider. This means that the practice has treated more patients with Invisalign than 99% of providers. Our team is known for creating beautiful, healthy smiles all over the Valley. 

Advanced Orthodontics uses the latest orthodontic technology to treat patients of all ages from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, and Globe. See the difference in our clients’ smiles by visiting our Smile Gallery.

See how Invisalign can perfect your smile and find out the answer to the question, how long is the Invisalign treatment? During a complimentary consultation at Advanced Orthodontics, we’ll walk you through this seamless process. Contact the team at Advanced Orthodontics for a professional answer to whether Invisalign is the answer for you.

You can use your smile to change the world. But do you need to change your smile? A smile is a curve that sets everything straight, and having straight teeth can help with your self-confidence as you shine your light on the world with your pearly whites.

Sometimes it’s hard to know if you need Invisalign, the “invisible”, custom-fit removable aligners that are an easy alternative to braces. Perhaps you’ve gotten accustomed to the way you bite, the way you clench your teeth and the way you smile. Perhaps there’s a new person in your life who has suggested you explore your options. Or maybe you’re just curious. 

This post will cover how to know if you need Invisalign and if you qualify for Invisalign. Of course, the first thing to do is start with a consultation with an orthodontist who will examine your teeth and advise appropriately on everything from aesthetic considerations to whether Invisalign treatment will help you with grinding your teeth at night. Until then, here are some considerations.

How Do You Know If Invisalign Is Right For You?

You’ve probably heard about Invisalign (or seen people wearing Invisalign aligners) and wondered about the pros and cons versus traditional braces. Sure, they are less invasive and less noticeable than traditional braces, but are they for you? 

On the one hand, they’re super convenient as you can remove them when you’re eating, drinking and brushing your teeth. On the other hand, that convenience isn’t something to be taken for granted as you then remove them whenever you feel like it.

Most orthodontists recommend wearing them for up to 22 hours a day to have the desired effect. So, ask yourself: am I diligent enough to leave them in my mouth and only remove them when absolutely necessary? 

If you skipped on having braces as a child and have been living with skew teeth for a while, then Invisalign is a great option to transition into a straighter smile. 

The clear aligners mean you’re not making some big announcement to everyone about how you are now an adult with braces. It’s way more subtle. Depending on your age though, you may have significant tooth decay or gum disease that will prevent you from enjoying orthodontic treatment. 

Likewise, when teeth need to be exposed under the gum line to help their eruption, Invisalign may not be an option right away. Again, here an orthodontist can advise what solution is best. 

Do I Need Invisalign?

The first consideration as to whether or not you actually need Invisalign is one that we’ve mentioned already: aesthetic reasons. If you’ve had a gap between your front teeth that continues to irk you, then yes. If you weren’t able to have braces as a child due to various reasons, then yes!

You can’t put a number on having a healthy body image. Like we said, your smile can change the world. So while it may seem like a luxury consideration to ask yourself – do I need Invisalign? Really, the question to ask is how will this contribute to my overall health and confidence? 

The next consideration involves asking yourself: is there a better way for my mouth to function when I chew? Do I have an overbite where my teeth overlap in peculiar ways or do I have an underbite? Either of these bites – under or over – can present challenges with how you speak, how you sleep and how you eat your food. Perhaps it’s something that you’ve learned to live with. 

The good news is that you don’t have to live with them for the rest of your life. Invisalign may be the remedy you have been looking for, depending on the severity of your situation.

Lastly, improving your oral health is a consideration when weighing if you need Invisalign. Perhaps bad habits crept into your dental hygiene when you were a teenager and you now go to bed without brushing your teeth. Invisalign treatment will bring consciousness to your mouth as you become more diligent in your brushing and flossing habits. 

Long-term, with straighter teeth, you will no longer struggle with those nasty gaps where food likes to get stuck after a meal. By aligning your teeth, you’re giving yourself a renewed chance to prevent gum disease and tooth decay as you get older. 

How Do You Know If You Qualify For Invisalign?

Here we’ve addressed Invisalign for adults, but the same sentiment extends to children, with kids as young as eight years old enjoying Invisalign treatment. On the other end of the age spectrum, adults up to 80 have attested to the benefits of Invisalign. 

If you’re a parent who’s considering Invisalign treatment for their kids, then some of the considerations around your child having the patience and diligence to keep their alignment tray in their mouth for extended periods of time perhaps weighs more heavily than if they have pre-existing tooth decay. 

A common question we get asked is: how long is the Invisalign treatment? It’s usually 6 to 18 months, and because the trays are clear, you can often start seeing results in just a few weeks. This is a long-term process. In the end though, it’s well worth the sacrifice.

The specifics regarding whether or not you qualify for Invisalign is something that the experts at Advanced Orthodontics can help you with.

You may not have been born with perfectly straight teeth, but being confident in your own skin, with a smile that you want to share with the world is a birthright in its own way. With Invisalign treatment, you can be on your way to enjoying a confident smile.

Contact Advanced Orthodontics today to schedule an initial consultation.

Being a parent is a challenging job! Just when you think you’ve made it through the tough, early years with little to no sleep, along come sleepless nights spent worrying if you’re making the right decision investing in your child’s teeth and addressing any dental concerns early on in their young adulthood. 

‘How long do you have to wear Invisalign?’ is a question that we often get asked – not just by parents, but also adults who are thinking of correcting their crooked teeth.

The answer to that question depends on each person’s unique set of teeth and circumstances, though there is some general information we can offer before you seek the advice of a professional orthodontist.

How Long Do You Have to Wear Invisalign?

If you’ve already made the decision to straighten your own or your child’s teeth, you’ve probably transitioned into the next stage of weighing up braces versus Invisalign’s “invisible” aligners.

The short answer to the question ‘how long do you have to wear Invisalign’ is roughly 12 to 18 months for comprehensive care, and up to 22 hours a day. This is faster than traditional braces because with the clear aligners we can move each tooth in the specific desired direction, rather than braces that are glued to each tooth and tightened with different tension strains. 

Teenagers are known to prefer Invisalign to braces as the clear, BPA-free medical grade plastic with smart track technology is strong and removable if need be. There’s less likelihood of nasty cuts on your gums and lips and less awkward smiles with food stuck in your braces. 

You can eat what you like (except for drinking anything hot with the aligners in your mouth), and they’re considerably more comfortable than braces. Of course, just because they’re removable one shouldn’t take them out at every opportunity. 

The time estimate of 12 to 18 months is based on the aligners being worn for 22 hours a day. You need to diligently follow the instructions of your orthodontist to achieve the desired optimal results. 

Why Do Braces Take Longer Than Invisalign?

Orthodontics isn’t all about being able to flash a great smile. You’re wanting to establish healthy dental hygiene habits and end with a functional jaw without an overbite or underbite. The advantage of starting young with any kind of orthodontics is that you can influence jaw growth. 

Teeth crowding, gaps between teeth, overbites and underbites can all be addressed early on, before the teeth and gums get more resistant to change. With Invisalign treatment, a nifty digital scan is taken of your teeth and gums. This is used as the blueprint for your orthodontic treatment. 

When it comes to weighing up braces versus Invisalign, the treatment is based primarily on each person’s unique needs. Braces are often required if more serious orthodontic treatment is needed first. 

Perhaps your child has the habit of sucking their thumb and their top and bottom teeth do not line up at all. In this instance, orthodontic surgery (teeth extraction) could be required before a maintenance plan involving Invisalign comes into effect.  

People who opt for braces usually wear them for anywhere between 1 and 3 years. Uneven jaw growth is addressed, along with teeth straightening. Very often with children, their teeth are still emerging and this needs to be taken into account. 

The positive way of seeing this chapter in your child’s life – or if you’re an adult considering Invisalign – is that you get to instill a value system around good general oral habits. 

Healthy flossing, regular brushing and doing what you’re advised to do by a professional orthodontist is the best way to approach Invisalign treatment. Healthy habits and daily care lead to a healthy smile.

Invisalign treatment is a great alternative to traditional braces. The first step on your journey towards a bright smile is assessing whether you qualify for Invisalign treatment.  

Contact Advanced Orthodontics today to schedule an initial consultation.

Crooked smile? No problem. These days there are many options to help straighten your teeth and brighten your smile. Painful metal braces aren’t your only option anymore. 

This is good news, especially for adults who would prefer not to wear standard metal braces. Cosmetic dental treatments have improved drastically over the last couple of years, both in quality and cost. 

Your smile is such a prominent and important feature, and if you have a crooked one, we understand how that can make you feel unhappy. Crooked teeth can affect your bite and the uneven wearing down of the enamel on your teeth. 

But don’t worry, there is a solution for you. Braces can do the trick, and there are many options to turn to, from discrete Invisalign aligners or lingual braces to metal braces. This post looks at what causes crooked teeth and how to fix crooked teeth. 

What causes crooked teeth?

Teeth can develop unevenly due to several reasons. For example, genetics, jaw growth issues, obstructed airways, and oral health conditions can all play a role. Sometimes it just cannot be helped. Here we look at what causes crooked teeth in babies and adults.

Baby teeth have so much gum space to move in that they can often pop out crooked. Let’s take a look at the issues causing crooked baby teeth:

Crowding: If your toddler has crooked baby teeth, it doesn’t necessarily mean the permanent teeth will grow crooked too. Although if you notice your baby’s teeth are quite crowded together, there is a chance their permanent teeth may suffer this issue as well. 

Trauma: If your baby suffers trauma to the mouth or has some of their baby teeth fall out sooner than they should, their permanent teeth may grow out slanted. 

Genetics: Many issues like underbites, overbites, and crooked teeth are influenced by genetics, and we can’t avoid this. If problems arise like dental crowding or bite problems, it’s best to get your child assessed by a doctor, so they can monitor the progress and evaluate your child’s needs as they grow. 

Thumb-sucking: Thumb-sucking and even pacifiers can impact your child’s teeth. These actions can push the front teeth forward or even create an overbite in some children. This becomes more severe if the child carries on this habit past the age of 6 or 7 since adult teeth start coming through at this age. If it does carry on, you may be faced with further issues down the line. 

Now that we’ve looked at why baby teeth may come out crooked, let’s address why adult or permanent teeth become crooked:

Gum disease: If you suffer from gum problems or gum disease, you will find this impacting the straightness of your teeth. Gum disease can cause your teeth to become loose. When this happens, their alignment and even your bite can change and become crooked.

Aging: Did you know that your teeth tend to drift forward and, therefore, become more crowded as you age. Often people think this is because of their wisdom teeth pushing the rest of their teeth forward. But what’s actually happening is your jaw bone is losing density and changing shape. And this seems to encourage teeth to crowd at the front. That’s right. It’s not just wrinkles old folks have to worry about. 

Injury: Severe injury to your face can cause your teeth to move around. It can also affect the position of your jaw and even damage your gums. All this, of course, can affect your teeth. Make sure you use gum guards during contact sports so this doesn’t happen. 

Use your retainer: If you don’t want your teeth to shift back to being crooked after you’ve had your teeth aligned with braces, make sure to listen to your doctor. You will often need to wear a retainer after dental work to prevent a relapse or your teeth moving back to their original crooked position.

Jaw size: Due to evolution, our jaws are becoming smaller. We don’t have to chew as much as our ancestors did. With a smaller jaw size comes crowded, crooked, and misaligned teeth. 

Dental care: It’s vital to have your teeth checked by a dentist every year. This way, you won’t miss any issues such as gum disease and cavities but will get treated in time, lessening the chance for crooked teeth to creep in unnoticed. 

How to fix crooked teeth?

So you’ve made the decision, you’re going to fix your teeth. Now what? What is the best treatment option for you? A trip to the orthodontist will help you figure this out, but let’s look at a couple of the options here. 

Metal braces

If your teeth and gums are strong, metal braces are a good option for people of all ages. The treatment can take anywhere between two to three years, depending on your dental requirements. Metal braces are attached to your teeth with brackets, bands and flexible wire. These are a good option for complex dental issues. 

With a history of being prominent and painful, many people don’t like the idea of turning to metal braces. But there have been many changes in how these are made, and you’ll find them smaller, with colorful bands, made with less metal and they are also less painful than a couple of years ago. 

Ceramic braces

These are similar to traditional metal braces but are clear and ceramic, and their archwires are also clear or tooth-colored. These will cost you slightly more than metal braces, but the straightening process is the same. They are a good option for those who need braces’ strength but don’t want to have them seen. 

Invisible braces

Invisible braces, like Invisalign, are almost entirely invisible. These clear plastic aligners are made to fit your mouth and fit over each tooth. They look a bit like a mouthguard. 

Usually, they are removed and replaced every few weeks, depending on your dental needs. The series of plastic aligners will gradually move your teeth to the correct place. Although they’re great for adjusting crooked teeth, they are not a solution for severe cases of alignment correction.

Lingual braces

Also not recommended for more severe cases of crooked teeth, lingual braces cover the side of your teeth that face your tongue. This way, they’re also invisible. They are much more expensive than the other braces options and difficult to clean. 

Dental Veneers

Can you get veneers with crooked teeth? The answer is yes. If you suffer from a minor issue or small gaps between your teeth, veneers may be a good option. These are thin porcelain covers that are placed on top of your teeth. They are shaped to transform your teeth directly. Unfortunately, they are fastened to your teeth for a very long time, sometimes around 20 years. 

How we can help

Advanced Orthodontics is proud to be a top 1% Invisalign provider. This means that the practice has treated more patients with Invisalign than 99% of providers. Our team is known for creating beautiful, healthy smiles all over the Valley. 

Advanced Orthodontics uses the latest orthodontic technology to treat patients of all ages from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, and Globe. See the difference in our clients’ smiles by visiting our Smile Gallery.

See how Invisalign can perfect your smile and find out how to fix crooked teeth during a complimentary consultation at Advanced Orthodontics. Contact the team at Advanced Orthodontics for a professional answer to whether Invisalign is the answer for you.