Invisalign Looks Fantastic, but How Long Does It Take?

Invisalign has allowed many patients with mild to moderate dental misalignments to straighten their smiles without the cumbersome metal parts and frustrating dietary restrictions that come with traditional metal braces. However, it’s understandable that you would want to know how much time you can expect to invest in the process before you commit to it. Here’s a brief overview of the factors that help determine how long your Invisalign treatment can take and a few tips for keeping the process on track.

 What Factors Determine How Long My Invisalign Treatment Will Take?

Invisalign usually takes anywhere from six to eighteen months to complete while traditional braces typically take about one to three years. The timeframe of your Invisalign treatment will be greatly determined by several factors such as:

• The severity of your misalignment: Patients with more severe misalignments will probably need longer treatment times.
• How well you comply with your treatment instructions: It’s imperative to wear your aligners for at least twenty hours daily to keep your treatment on track, and failing to practice proper hygiene can lead to unsightly stains and treatment delays.
• The emergence of new oral health issues: In some cases, it may be necessary to delay, postpone, or extend one’s Invisalign treatment so issues like tooth decay or gum disease can be addressed.

How Can I Ensure My Invisalign Treatment Stays on Track?

The best ways to keep your Invisalign process on schedule will be clearly detailed in the treatment instructions your dentist will give you. You can expect these to include:

• Wear your aligners for at least twenty hours daily.
• Remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything but water.
• Thoroughly clean your teeth and your aligners before reinserting your appliances.
• Limit your intake of dark-colored foods and beverages such as colas, coffee, tea, red wine, and dark sauces, as these can leave unsightly stains on your teeth and your aligners.
• Keep your aligners out of reach of pets and small children.

Neglecting to remove your aligners before eating can cause your appliances to become damaged during the chewing process, and failing to eliminate the plaque and food debris from your teeth before wearing your aligners can leave your pearly whites vulnerable to nasty infections. These issues may result in inconvenient and possibly costly treatment delays, so sticking to your dentist’s instructions is paramount to keeping your Invisalign process brief and complication-free.

About the Practice

Pace Dental of Vienna offers the most outstanding oral health services in town. Led by Drs. Ahmed Saad, Olga Spivak, and Arian Kohi, the staff ensures that each patient receives genuine compassion alongside outstanding customer service. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as Invisalign services. To learn more about keeping your Invisalign process on track, contact the office online or dial (703) 705-7476.