How Long Does Invisalign Take (& Other Things to Consider Before Getting Your Teeth Straightened as an Adult)

As someone who had braces (and a fetching metal expander that gave me a giant lisp) as a tween, and then Invisalign in my 20s and 30s, I’m quite familiar with the process of getting my teeth straightened. A little too familiar, perhaps, but that’s partly because our teeth shift throughout our lives, which is why your dentist is always harping on you about wearing your retainer (more on that later). To answer some of your most pressing questions about Invisalign and teeth straightening in general, I’ve enlisted the help of two top-notch dental experts. Let’s get to it then, shall we?

• Erin Fraundorf, DMD, MSD is the founder of BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio in Missouri. Dr. Fraundorf earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine at the University of Louisville, then completed a 30-month residency of specialized training in orthodontics, as well as a Master of Science in Dentistry and Orthodontics at the Saint Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education. Dr. Erin is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, Missouri Dental Association and the Orthodontic Education and Research Foundation.  She is also proud to serve on the Greater St Louis Dental Society New Dentist Committee and as a Representative for the Missouri Dental Association.
• Dr. Sam Lee is a board-certified orthodontist, the co-founder of Sons & Daughters Orthodontics in Irvine & Riverside, CA, and a global representative of Align Technology. Dr. Lee attended UCLA School of Dentistry, before completing a residency in Orthodontics at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC.

Both dentists agree that Invisalign is a good option for pretty much anyone who wants their teeth straightened. “It works for many different types of individuals, including those who have overcrowding, an overbite, underbite, crossbite, gaps, crooked teeth or anyone who has had teeth shift after braces,” says Dr. Lee.

“During the initial consultation, your doctor can show you a detailed 3D scan mapping out the treatment process. This will give you an idea of what your smile will look like after completing treatment. Your doctor will also be able to go over more specific details about what can be achieved—from individual tooth movement to how your overall smile will appear—using specific in-face visualization tools,” he adds.

No surprises here: Patient compliance plays a big part of your treatment. “If you wear your clear aligners as instructed and are in the hands of a knowledgeable, detail-oriented orthodontist, you can expect excellent results,” assures Dr. Fraundorf. She does, however, concede that there are some “complex cases that have limitations and may require various alternatives like undergoing a hybrid treatment (i.e., utilizing additional buttons or brackets in addition to your clear aligners or surgical interventions, etc.) but this is determined on a case-by-case basis.”

The length of your Invisalign treatment can vary widely, as it’s dependent on several criteria, including:

• The severity of your teeth (aka case complexity) at baseline. Some questions Dr. Fraundorf considers include how much tooth movement is required? Is it minimal alignment or is it a more complex case that may require significant coordination of the arches and bite correction?
  
• Patient compliance. While every doctor’s prescription varies, a good rule of thumb is to expect to wear your aligners full time (meaning 22+ hours/day) for efficient tooth movement. The less you wear your aligners, the longer you have to stay in each tray, which means it will take longer to reach your goals.
  
• Your dentist or orthodontist’s level of expertise. “Your doctor is the designer and the captain of your smile transformation journey. They are responsible for utilizing the tools to steer the ship and get you to the finish line,” says Dr. Fraundorf. “Some doctors are more skilled and detail-oriented, and some are more specialized (i.e., a general dentist vs an orthodontic specialist). All of these factors will all affect how long your treatment will take and the end results.”

This will also depend on several factors that vary from patient to patient. “Your doctor will determine the cost of your treatment based on how complex your case is and how many aligners you need, but in most cases, the cost of Invisalign treatment is comparable to the cost of traditional braces,” says Dr. Lee. Other things that will affect the cost of your treatment include the expertise of your doctor (are they a board-certified orthodontist vs. a general dentist) and the geographic region of where you’re getting your treatment done.

Based on a survey of 200 Invisalign providers conducted by Align Technology Inc. (the manufacturers of Invisalign) last year, the median reported cost for treatment is between $5,000 and $6,000. So yes, it’s quite the investment.

One of the biggest misconceptions about Invisalign is that people think it’s only meant for adults. “Invisalign work for kids and teens as well. In fact, they’re often preferred because they’re less painful than traditional braces and can fix both simple cases and more complex smile issues,” says Dr. Lee.

Another common misconception Dr. Fraundorf hears from patients is that they expect Invisalign to be completely invisible. “There are various components to Invisalign—namely, these little ‘attachments’ that are tooth-colored and adhered onto your teeth in various configurations to assist in specific types of tooth movement,” she explains. “Many of my patients are surprised to see that they have all of these attachments on their teeth during the treatment, so it’s important to openly discuss these things with your provider before you begin.”

Follow your doctor’s prescribed protocol. “Like all teeth straightening treatments, including traditional braces, once you’re done with your Invisalign treatment, you’ll need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth straight longterm. Depending on your doctor, you’ll be offered custom-made Vivera™ retainers that are crafted using the same technology as your Invisalign aligners or another retainer brand,” says Dr. Lee.

Dr. Fraundorf adds that you should expect to wear these removable retainers at night for the rest of your life because your teeth continue to move. “For some patients, I prescribe a fixed or bonded retainer (more commonly referred to as a ‘permanent’ retainer), but that’s usually reserved for people who began with excessive lower anterior crowding or a gap between the upper front teeth,” she adds.

“It’s true our teeth will continue to shift throughout lifetime,” says Dr. Lee. “Our bodies are constantly changing—whether it’s our hair, our skin or our teeth. They’re constantly exposed to wear and contact to help us function in our daily lives, and when that’s not balanced, our teeth can slowly move and often, they move unevenly. This is why even after orthodontic treatment is complete, you will need a retainer to ‘retain’ the teeth in their newly fixed position as best as possible. It’s no different than going to a gym and working out your body to a physical goal, and then doing the necessary things afterwards to maintain your body in that shape for as long as possible,” he explains.