| Problem | Typical Invisalign timeline |
|---|---|
| Mild relapse after previous treatment | 4 to 8 months |
| Mild crowding or spacing, front teeth only | 6 to 9 months |
| Moderate crowding, both arches | 9 to 15 months |
| Crowding plus bite correction (overbite, crossbite) | 12 to 20 months |
| Comprehensive teen treatment with growth | 12 to 24 months |
| Extraction cases, severe rotations, open bites | 18 to 30 months, and braces may be recommended instead |
Ranges include a refinement round. Individual cases vary; the orthodontist estimates yours from the plan.
What is inside the timeline
Planning and manufacturing, 2 to 4 weeks before day one. The main aligner series, changed weekly. A refinement scan near the end and a shorter second series to finish details, which nearly every case needs. Then retainers, which are not part of active treatment but are part of keeping it.
The two things that make it run long
Wear time. Aligners move teeth for the hours they are in. At 22 hours a day the plan runs to schedule. At 16 hours, movements lag, aligners stop fitting, and the plan has to be remade. This is the single largest cause of delay.
Skipped check-ins. Remote monitoring and in-person visits catch teeth that are not tracking early, when a chewie or a small change fixes it. Caught late, the fix is a new series.
Things that do not shorten it
Changing aligners faster than prescribed (it damages roots and reduces fit), vibration devices (evidence does not support them), and skipping refinement (it leaves the details unfinished).
Braces for comparison
Comparable comprehensive cases take a similar time with braces, without the wear-time variable. See braces vs Invisalign.
Ready to find out what your options are?
Complimentary evaluations for children, teens and adults at myORTHODONTIST Maple Ridge on Dewdney Trunk Road. No referral needed.