How Long Does Invisalign Take? Why Estimates Range From 6 Months To 2+ Years

Invisalign promises a nearly invisible, comfortable way to correct your teeth. But there’s one thing it doesn’t promise—instant results.

So, before committing, it’s only natural for you to wonder: how long will it take?

Invisalign says that treatment can be as quick as 6 months - and it can be - but a study of 500 patients published in 2023 found that the average length of Invisalign treatment was just under 2 years (22.8 months).

6 months vs 22 months? That’s a big difference, and it shows why it’s so important to understand how the kind of Invisalign treatment you need affects your treatment length.

Yes, Invisalign can fix both crooked teeth and bite alignment issues, but the time it takes to accomplish each goal isn’t necessarily the same.

So, in this post, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about the timing around Invisalign, from how fast it can straighten your teeth to how long it takes to get used to wearing the aligners.

By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of what to expect—and why Invisalign might be the best decision you ever make for your smile.

How long does Invisalign take to work?

This is probably the most common question we’ve received while providing Invisalign in Coquitlam for our local patients.

We completely get it: people want to know how long they’ll have to wear aligners for before they achieve their ideal smile or feel improvements to the way their teeth and jaws are aligned.

Unfortunately, like with most medical procedures, the answer varies from person to person.

With Invisalign, that’s especially true since the mechanics of a person’s teeth, jaws, and surrounding muscles can be very intricate.

Sure, everyone who gets Invisalign wears similar-looking aligners and goes through a similar experience, but your overall treatment length can vary by months to over a year—it all depends on the complexity of your orthodontic goals and how disciplined you are about wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours each day.

Below, we’ll explore what you can expect based on the type of smile issue you're addressing.

For straightening teeth

If your goal is primarily to straighten your teeth, you’re looking at between 6 to 18 months of Invisalign treatment, most likely on the upper end of that range.

When you hear estimates like 6-8 months being discussed, they’re almost always referring to milder cases, like minor crowding or realignment of just a few crooked teeth.

For more complex cases, like moderate to significant misalignment, it might take closer to the full 18 months.

Wait, what about "Express" options?

Unfortunately, those don’t actually offer faster treatment for complex cases.

As we outlined in the previous section, the estimates of 3-6 months are for very minor corrections, like a single misaligned tooth, or touch-ups on older orthodontic work, which is why they’re able to advertise incredibly quick results.

Here’s the exact phrasing from Align Technology, the company behind the Invisalign brand: “Our Invisalign Express Package provides a cost-effective solution for smiles that only require minor corrections in as little as 3 months. Clinical scope: relapse, minor movement, anterior esthetic alignment”

(That last item just refers to how your teeth look on the outward facing side that people see when you speak or smile.)

While it would be amazing if we could reliably accelerate orthodontic treatment, that isn’t something you should expect from Invisalign’s current offerings.

Speaking from experience with multiple patients, we can say that the best way to keep your treatment moving quickly is to wear your aligners consistently and as often as you can. The more you wear them, the quicker your treatment will progress.

For correcting bite position

If your bite is off - whether it's an overbite, underbite, or crossbite - Invisalign can also help, though the treatment may take longer compared to teeth straightening or gap reduction.

On average, correcting bite alignment with Invisalign can take from 12 to 24 months.

Because adjusting bite alignment involves not just straightening teeth but also moving the jaw into the correct position, this can take a bit more time. However, it’s crucial for avoiding long-term problems like excessive wear on your teeth, headaches, or jaw pain.

In recent years, the option of “Invisalign Rubber Bands” has been introduced. They can add more force to your aligners in challenging areas, leading to slightly quicker treatment.

It’s worth keeping in mind that they also add more complexity to your aligners and daily routine, though, so they might not be suitable for everyone.

After all - like we mentioned earlier - the most important thing is wearing your aligners regularly; consistency is super, super important for seeing proper results.

For closing gaps

If you have gaps between your teeth, Invisalign can work relatively quickly compared to other treatments. Many patients see noticeable improvements in as little as 6 to 12 months.

Gaps are often easier to correct because the aligners can more easily push the teeth toward each other.

Depending on the size of the gap and the complexity of your case, your dentist will give you a more specific estimate. The main consideration is what’s called “diastema size”, which is the distance between teeth.

If you have large gaps in multiple places, then it’s more likely that your treatment will take closer to twelve months rather than six.

How long does it take to start Invisalign?

Once you’ve decided to start Invisalign, you might be eager to get your aligners as soon as possible. But there are a few steps before you can actually begin wearing them.

Checking your oral health

Before starting any treatment, your dentist will need to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy.

If you have any underlying dental problems—like cavities, gum disease, or a buildup of tartar—these will need to be addressed first.

Depending on the issue and its severity, this can delay the start of Invisalign by a few weeks to as long as a year in cases where the gums are severely damaged and need time to recover.

Treating these issues can add some extra time before Invisalign treatment can officially begin, but it’s an essential step to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy enough to handle the movement caused by aligners.

For things like cavity treatment or minimal to mild tartar buildup, it should only take an extra appointment or two to correct.

If your gums are heavily inflamed and there’s a lot of tartar buildup, you’ll probably need to wait until your gums are in a healthier state before starting Invisalign.

(Invisalign isn’t connected with long-term gum damage, but the pressure can still aggravate your gums, making you less likely to wear your aligners and affecting your overall comfort.)

Once your dentist has given the all-clear, you’re ready for the next step.

Fitting your aligners

After your oral health check, the next step is a digital scan or - if your dentist is a bit more “old school” - a physical mold of your teeth.

Most Invisalign providers will use a digital scan - it’s what Invisalign recommends. The digital scan is quick and painless, and it creates a 3D model of your mouth.

You might spend about an hour in the chair for this process, but this 3D model is essential for designing your aligners; it’s what your dentist will use to map out the movement of your teeth over the course of your treatment.

Making your aligners

Once your digital scan or mold is complete, it gets sent off to a lab, where your custom aligners are made.

This part can take 1-3 weeks to complete; in our experience, it mostly depends on the specific lab your dentist or dental office uses.

Dental offices that have their own in-house labs and a speedy workflow can sometimes have aligners ready in as little as a week. For others that use distant, third-party labs, the wait can be as long as three weeks.

Once your aligners are ready, you’ll return to the dentist to make sure they fit properly, and you’ll receive instructions on how to wear them to get the best results.

How long does it take to get used to Invisalign?

Once you’ve got your aligners, the next question on your mind might be: How long will it take before I get used to wearing them?

It’s normal to feel a bit of discomfort or pressure when you first start Invisalign, but most people adjust fairly quickly.

When will the discomfort stop?

For most patients, any soreness or discomfort will fade after the first week.

The pressure can feel quite intense during the first few days, but it's a sign that the aligners are doing their job—moving your teeth.

If the discomfort doesn’t go away after a week or two, or if it’s causing you significant pain, it’s a good idea to check in with your dentist to ensure everything is progressing as it should be.

Sometimes, your aligners can rub against areas like your gums or cheeks, or your mouth may become drier as a reaction to the unfamiliar Invisalign trays. If that’s the case, your dentist can help to adjust your aligners or recommend a solution to keep your mouth hydrated.

You should also be aware that, since you’ll be exchanging your trays for tighter ones every couple of weeks, there can be minor pressure and discomfort each time you start a new set, although - as you get used to the routine - it likely won’t bother you anywhere near as much as the first time.

When will results be noticeable?

You’ll likely start to notice changes in your smile after about six weeks of treatment, though this can vary from person to person.

Some patients see changes earlier, especially with minor cases, while others might take a bit longer. Your dentist will schedule periodic check-ins to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments.

How long does Invisalign take vs braces?

Unlike braces, Invisalign fits fully around each tooth, and that matters when it comes to tooth movement.

That molded, wraparound structure, combined with detailed 3D scanning and tooth movement planning, can give Invisalign a speed advantage over braces, which rely on wires and metal brackets to put pressure on specific points of a tooth.

That means, for simple to moderate cases, Invisalign tends to be quicker than braces in terms of the overall treatment time.

However, that doesn't apply to cases that involve very challenging tooth movement or severe bite issues. For complex cases, Invisalign tends to take around the same amount of time as braces. That’s because your jaw bone and related mouth structures need time to shift, not just your teeth, so the time difference between the two orthodontic methods is less pronounced.

All in all, the clearest answer will come from your dentist.

They’ll be able to provide a clearer comparison based on your specific needs and explain how each option, whether it’s braces or Invisalign, will impact your overall treatment length.

The roundup: Invisalign timing

For quick reference, here’s a recap of some of the typical time frames associated with the different types of smile correction and stages of Invisalign treatment.

But remember—these are just averages, and they’re based on the aligners being diligently worn for 20-22 hours daily!

• Average treatment time:
  Clinical studies report an average of 22 months.
  
• Teeth straightening:
  6-18 months; likely towards the higher end for most people.
  
• Correcting bite position:
  12-24 months; also towards the higher end in most cases.
  
• Closing gaps:
  6-12 months; expect closer to 12 months for multiple large gaps.
  
• Starting Invisalign:
  1 week to a few months; it mostly depends on your current oral health.
  
• Adjusting to Invisalign:
  1 week; that’s usually how long it takes to adjust to any initial discomfort.
  
• Seeing results:
  6 weeks; simple corrections are apparent sooner, complex ones take longer.
  
• Invisalign vs braces:
  A few months quicker for basic smile correction; the same for complex cases.

Looking to start Invisalign in Coquitlam?

Glen Dental Centre is an Invisalign-certified provider!

Our Coquitlam dental clinic provides a complete range of dental services. We don’t just offer Invisalign—we also offer any other treatments you need to get your smile ready for your aligners, like gum care or cavity repair.

You’ll also find conveniences like direct billing, financing, as well as evening and Saturday appointment hours. Plus, if you’re taking transit, our location is super accessible, just steps away from Lincoln Station.

Call us at (604) 552-2241 or book online to schedule your Invisalign consultation!