When patients ask how long the whole process will take when they are thinking about getting braces, we totally get it because any medical or dental treatment requires you to adjust your schedule and other things going on in your life. The time frame for Invisalign is different for everyone and there is no one size fits all answer. Instead of giving you generalizations we give you real time frames based on your own scenario. Knowing what affects how long treatment will take will help you set realistic goals and stay motivated as you work towards a straighter smile.
The main thing that will affect how long your Invisalign treatment will take is how complex your orthodontic needs are. Someone with just a few spacing issues or a little congestion can reach their goals in as little as 6-8 months. Cases with more serious misalignment, bite issues or more than one orthodontic issue usually take 12-18 months. Treatment can take up to 2 years or a little longer in some cases where the issues are more complex. When you come to Marrecau Orthodontics we will examine your teeth in detail and give you a personalized time frame estimate based on your unique situation.
How bad the crowding or spacing is has a big impact on how long treatment will take. Less movement and fewer aligners are needed for mild crowding where teeth overlap slightly. For severe crowding where teeth are really twisted or forced out of position more movement and more aligners are needed. Similarly it doesn’t take long to close small gaps between teeth but it takes longer to close bigger gaps or move teeth further. Bite issues can also affect how long it takes. Fixing an overbite, underbite or crossbite makes treatment planning more complicated and usually takes longer than just aligning teeth.
Your age and the state of your teeth can also affect how fast treatment goes. Younger patients especially teens whose bones are still growing have teeth that move a little faster than adults whose bones are fully grown. But this doesn’t mean treatment for adults takes a lot longer. We can treat patients of all ages with Invisalign. Adults generally see great results in a short amount of time. That’s why it’s so important to keep your teeth clean during treatment: healthy gums and bone structure let teeth move more easily.
Following the instructions for wearing your aligners is crucial if you want to stay on track. You need to wear the aligners for at least 20-22 hours a day for them to work. Your teeth won’t move according to the treatment plan if you often forget to wear them or leave them out for long periods of time. This will make your timeline longer. We’ve seen examples where irregular wear made treatment last several months longer. Patients who are careful about wearing their aligners all the time generally finish their treatment right on time or even a little early.
How often you switch to new aligners also changes the total timeline. Most patients switch to a new set of aligners every 1-2 weeks depending on their treatment plan. Some newer Invisalign systems let you switch your aligners every week which can speed up the whole treatment process. We figure out the best time to wear each aligner based on how your teeth are reacting to the treatment. We check on your progress and make any necessary changes during your frequent check-in appointments in Parkland to make sure you stay on track.
Sometimes treatment can be put on hold or take longer because of things that happen in life. If you lose or break your aligners and need new ones it will take longer for them to be made. Taking long breaks from wearing your aligners as when you go on vacation or have a lot of work to do can also slow down progress. We tell patients to plan ahead for these kinds of things and let us know if they have any concerns. We can sometimes give you backup aligners or change your treatment plan to make things go more smoothly.
We use state-of-the-art digital technology at our Parkland office to design your treatment with precision. We can estimate your timeline from the beginning but orthodontics isn’t an exact science and sometimes teeth don’t move the way you think they will. We may need to order more aligners or change your plan if we see that progress is slower than we thought it would be during check-ins. Although these changes may add to your original timeline, they help ensure you get the best results possible.
We also offer consultations for patients who need full care that may involve multiple phases of treatment. For example we offer Early Treatment for younger patients whose orthodontic intervention can prevent more serious problems from happening later and may even shorten overall treatment time in the future.
The good news is that the treatment process isn’t very intrusive even if it takes months to finish. Most people can wear the clear aligners with no major issues. You can eat what you like, brush and floss your teeth as usual and do your daily activities with minimal hassle. After the first few weeks of getting used to it most patients say they hardly notice they’re getting treatment.
We know waiting months for results takes patience but we’re here to help you every step of the way. Regular check-ins help you stay motivated and let you see how your smile is slowly getting better. Most patients say time goes by faster than they thought it would and before they know it they’re wearing their last aligners and celebrating their new smile.
If you want to know how long Invisalign would take for your case please schedule an appointment with Marrecau Orthodontics. We’ll take a look at your teeth, talk about your goals and give you a realistic timeline so you can plan ahead. Call us today to learn more about what your orthodontic journey would be like.
Dr. Tomas Marrecau, DMD is a skilled orthodontist serving the Parkland and Coral Springs communities. A Princeton graduate and former Division I tennis player, he earned his dental degree from Tufts School of Dental Medicine, where he promoted oral health in local schools. He completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Marrecau is known for his personalized approach, helping patients achieve healthy, confident smiles with treatment plans tailored to their needs. Outside the office, he enjoys tennis, golf, travel, and time with his family.