Invisalign is a great alternative to traditional braces, and eliminates the need for brackets and wires. The Invisalign system uses clear aligner trays to gently move your teeth into place over time. This treatment is discrete and are the trays are comfortable when worn.
When you decide to move forward with Invisalign we take photos as well as detailed impressions of your teeth, and create a customized treatment that works best for you. The Invisalign trays can be easily removed for eating, drinking, and cleaning. This treatment is popular for both adults and teens, and treatment time is similar to traditional braces.
How Long Are Invisalign Trays Worn?
When you choose Invisalign you must be committed to wearing your trays for the required amount of time each day. The Invisalign aligners come with a blue indicator to tell you that you have worn your tray for the required amount of time. Invisalign trays are typically worn between 20-22 hours per day, and this varies per patient. Treatment time on average is between 6-18 months, and the length of treatment time depends on the severity of the correction.
Invisalign is a popular treatment choice for many patients, and provides exceptional results. Patients are required to attend regular exams in our office to ensure your treatment is progressing in the right direction. Our team works with you to ensure your treatment plan goes smoothly. Our team is available to answer questions you have during treatment, and if you ever have a problem with your aligner trays, we recommend calling our office.
Creating beautiful straight smiles is what we do, and we enjoy helping patients achieve the smile of their dreams. Let Smile Design help you start a treatment plan towards straighter teeth with our Invisalign treatment.
Interested in Finding Out More About Invisalign?
If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign orthodontic treatment, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with us. Dr. Imeni has years of experience in orthodontics, and will complete a thorough exam of your teeth. A customized treatment plan will be created that works for you. Your oral health is our priority, and we want to make your experience with us the very best!
To schedule an appointment, contact Smile Design Modern Dentistry, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you!
Why 20 to 22 Hours Matters
Aligners move teeth by applying gentle, sustained pressure. That word — sustained — is the whole mechanism. Each time a tray comes out, the pressure stops, and teeth begin drifting back toward where they started. Twenty to twenty-two hours a day is the threshold at which movement stays ahead of that rebound. In practice this means the trays are in for everything except eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing.
What Happens If You Do Not Wear Them Enough
Falling short does not simply slow things down — it can put treatment off course. The most common consequence is poor tracking, where the aligner no longer fits tightly against the teeth and a visible gap opens between tray and tooth. Once that happens, later trays in the series will not seat properly either, because each one was designed around the position the previous tray was supposed to achieve. The usual remedy is new scans and additional refinement aligners, which adds months and cost to treatment.
Habits That Make Wear Time Easier
- Put trays back in immediately after eating rather than "in a few minutes"
- Carry your case — most lost aligners are ones wrapped in a napkin
- Set a phone reminder for tray changes so you do not advance early or late
- Track wear with the built-in blue compliance indicator, which fades as you hit your daily target
- Limit grazing and sipping through the day, which is the usual reason wear time quietly slips
Eating, Drinking, and Cleaning
Always remove aligners to eat, and for anything other than plain water — hot drinks can warp the plastic, and sugary or coloured drinks get trapped against the enamel and cause both staining and decay. Rinse the trays whenever they come out, brush before putting them back in, and clean them with a soft brush and lukewarm water rather than toothpaste, which is abrasive enough to cloud the plastic.