See How Quickly Invisalign® Can Straighten Your Smile
For patients that suffer from a misaligned bite or crooked teeth, there are really two primary treatment options to consider. Patients can opt for traditional braces, or they can straighten the teeth with Invisalign® treatment, also known as invisible braces. Although the benefits of Invisalign® are clear to most patients, many wonder if Invisalign® can really provide results that are comparable to braces, and, if so, how long treatment will take. Dr. Victor R. Siegel is happy to discuss the typical Invisalign® treatment timeline with our Rockville, MD patients so that they can understand, not only how effective Invisalign® treatment is, but also how quickly they can expect to benefit from a more uniform and attractive smile.
Stages of Treatment
Because every patient is unique and has his or her own set of imperfections that need to be addressed, each Invisalign® treatment plan will vary slightly. However, in general, the treatment process, and timeline, will look similar for all Invisalign® patients. Below is an overview of the typical Invisalign® treatment timeline:
- Consultation: Every Invisalign® treatment begins with a consultation. This consultation is necessary to examine the teeth and ensure that Invisalign® treatment will provide successful teeth straightening results. This is a thorough consultation that will involve a visual exam, measurements, and digital images.
- Treatment plan: Once candidacy is determined, a treatment plan will be created. Each treatment is unique and is meant to address the specific problems of each patient. A series of custom Invisalign® aligners will be created and treatment will begin as soon as these aligners arrive from the laboratory, which typically takes a few weeks.
- Progressing through the series of aligners: Once treatment begins, patients will wear their Invisalign® aligners every day for a minimum of 22 hours. These aligners can be removed for eating, drinking, and caring for the teeth, but should be worn at all other times. During treatment, patients will progress through a series of aligners. Each aligner is slightly different than the one before it, and these subtle changes will apply the pressure that is necessary to address alignment problems. To get effective results, Invisalign® aligners will be switched out approximately every two weeks.
- Results: As treatment progresses, patients will slowly notice the alignment and position of the teeth improving. By the end of treatment, patients will have a more comfortable bite and straighter teeth. Although treatment time will vary from patient to patient, the average length of Invisalign® treatment is about a year, which is the same as the average treatment with traditional braces.
While a year may seem like a lengthy treatment, the Invisalign® timeline is typical for any form of orthodontic treatment, but offers patients the added benefits of comfort and convenience. What’s more, most patients find that the treatment seems to go by much faster than they anticipated, and they are soon enjoying the straight teeth they have always wanted.
Schedule an Appointment
If you are looking to improve your smile by straightening crooked or misaligned teeth, you owe it to yourself to learn more about Invisalign® treatment. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Victor R. Siegel to find out if you are a candidate for this revolutionary orthodontic treatment.
