How Long Does Invisalign Take? | Surry Hills Dentist
Missed our last two posts? We talked about Invisalign Prep 101: What to Expect and Invisalign Cost Guide: Which Treatment Tier Fits You Best?
So you’re thinking about straightening your teeth - and the next thing you’re wondering is:
“How long is this going to take?”
If you are wondering about how long does Invisalign takes. Honestly? It depends. (I refrained from saying ‘how long is a piece of string’)
But hear me out.
No two smiles are the same. Some patients come in with one pesky tooth doing its own thing after braces 10 years ago. Others have never had orthodontics and want to fix everything - crowded teeth, bite. Same Invisalign trays — very different journeys.
Here’s what we can tell you:
Each aligner moves teeth about 0.25mm or 2 degrees of rotation
You wear each tray for 7 days (yes, every day, all day except eating/brushing)
Invisalign comes in different packages, each with its own limits on aligner number:
Express – 7 aligners
Light – 14 aligners
Moderate – 26 aligners
Comprehensive – unlimited aligners
So if you’re on, say, Invisalign Light (14 trays), you’ll be wearing aligners for 14 weeks.
BUT. And it’s a big but.
We almost always recommend building in extra time for refinements, or fine-tuning — those last few tweaks to get things chef’s kiss perfect. Sometimes, unexpected things happen that may delay progress, like losing a tray, not wearing it the optimum amount of time, or traveling overseas.
Rule of thumb? Double your tray count to get a realistic total treatment time.
That means Light (14 trays) = around 28 weeks, Moderate (26 trays) = around 11-12 months. Of course, we have plenty of patients, with excellent wear time, not need any extra aligners for refinements, too.
We’ll always customise your plan to your goals, your bite, and how your teeth behave.
Because while Invisalign is science, your body is still human, and you can’t cheat biology.
And remember: faster isn’t always better. The best smile is the one that lasts.
—
Want to chat timelines or see what tier you might fall into? Come in for a consult - we’ll map it out with you.
Start Your Invisalign Journey in Surry Hills Today
Ready for a straighter smile? Your Invisalign journey in Surry Hills starts with just one step. Book a consultation with our experienced dental team and let’s personalise your treatment timeline today.
