Gone are those days when individuals with crooked smiles had no choice but to wear braces and headgear to correct their misalignments. Today, adults and adolescents alike prefer clear plastic aligners, Invisalign being the most popular. Invisalign offers to straighten your teeth without the use of metal hardware. Besides, the discreet look of Orlando clear aligners makes them suitable for patients who do not want other people to know they have undergone orthodontic therapy. Continue reading to discover how long clear aligners take to work and the factors that make the timeline differ from one patient to another.
When Will You Realize The Effects of Clear Aligners?
Each patient’s mouth is as distinct as their fingerprint. Therefore, it is difficult to determine precise treatment duration. Some patients who require only minor adjustments could finish treatment in as little as six months, whereas others might require about 18 months. Here are some of the primary contributors to variations in treatment duration.
Teeth Crowding
If your jaw is smaller than average (or your teeth are bigger than usual), you may have misaligned teeth because of crowding. Mild incidences of overcrowding could be resolved in as little as six months, whereas moderate complaints will take about a year. The greater the degree of dental crowding, the further your teeth will need to shift, and the longer your care will take. However, your dentist may suggest an alternative treatment before beginning Invisalign for cases of extreme overcrowding.
Spaces in Teeth
Diastema, often known as spaces between teeth, could result from excessive tissue development or undersized teeth relative to the jawbone. Like overcrowding, repairing minor gaps will require considerably less time than repairing serious gaps. Based on how fast your teeth adjust, therapy for mild to severe spacing and crowding can take as long as 18 months.
In rare instances, the jaw is disproportionately big compared to the teeth, which makes it challenging to completely shut your gaps. For this reason, your dentist can suggest additional procedures following Invisalign, like veneers or bonding.
Patient Age
While clear aligners are appropriate for both adolescents and adults, your age can affect how fast therapy works. As adolescents are still growing, their teeth are likely to shift more quickly and easily than those of adults.
Nevertheless, irrespective of age, some individuals’ teeth shift quicker than others, especially since most adults strictly adhere to their care regimen. Therefore, some adults may experience outcomes more quickly than their kids.
Compliance
Even for patients whose teeth only require modest initial correction, not using your aligners as prescribed by your dentist could significantly lengthen your treatment time. For optimal outcomes, Invisalign trays should be worn for not less than 22 hours daily.
You can remove your aligners for eating, brushing, or cleaning your teeth. Otherwise, you should wear them throughout the rest of the night and day, including when sleeping. If you fail to wear your aligners for the prescribed period, you may have treatment regression once your teeth shift back to their previous locations.
Invisalign clear aligners are a terrific way to attain an attractive smile. However, the timeline of your therapy will vary from patient to patient. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Jose Marcano at Orlando Center For Cosmetic Dentistry to determine how long your treatment might take. Call the Orlando, FL office or book online today.
