The honest answer is that it depends on your teeth. Small corrections, such as closing a gap or straightening one or two front teeth, can take a few months. More involved cases, such as significant crowding or bite correction, often take a year or more.
You get a realistic estimate at your consultation, along with a digital preview of the result.
What affects treatment time
How far the teeth need to move. More movement means more aligners and a longer treatment.
Bite problems. Correcting how your top and bottom teeth meet usually adds time.
How well you wear your aligners. This is the factor you control.
Your age and bone. Teeth in younger adults can move a little more quickly, but Invisalign works well at any adult age.
Wear time is everything
Aligners only move teeth while they are in your mouth. You need to wear them for 20 to 22 hours a day. If they spend too long in the case, your teeth fall behind the plan, the next aligner will not fit properly, and treatment takes longer.
Some habits that help:
Take aligners out only to eat and drink anything other than plain water.
Brush before you put them back in, so food is not trapped against your teeth.
Carry the case with you so you are not tempted to leave them out.
Change to the next set on the day you are told to.
Check-ups during treatment
You will come in for regular progress checks. These are short, and let us make sure your teeth are moving as planned. If they are not, we can adjust the plan early.
After Invisalign
Teeth naturally try to move back once treatment ends. Retainers hold them in place. We offer removable retainers (£250), Vivera retainers (£550 for three sets) and fixed bonded retainers (£280 per arch). Wearing your retainer as advised is the best way to protect what you have paid for.
Is Invisalign right for you?
Most adults with crowding, gaps or mild to moderate bite problems are suitable. Very complex cases may be better treated by a specialist orthodontist, and we will refer you if so.
Our first Invisalign consultation is free. Find out more on our Invisalign page or call 020 8203 1599.