How Many Hours a Day Do You Need to Wear Invisalign?

Your Seattle dentist can help you decide if Invisalign is the right choice for you. Invisalign in Seattle is a readily available option with helpful aids like the My Invisalign mobile app. Let’s take a closer look at the time investment this increasingly popular dental service requires.

Invisalign in Seattle: The Basics

Invisalign is a preferred choice in teeth straightening and alignment for many individuals because of its aesthetic appeal. In contrast to braces made with noticeable wires and brackets, Invisalign is crafted from SmartTrack thermoplastics that create a thin and clear aligner. It’s often used if a patient has crowded teeth, gaps in the teeth, or a mild underbite, overbite, or crossbite.

The aligners are tightly fitted over teeth, applying pressure to them and, over time, shifting their positioning.

Seattle Dentist’s Recommended Wearing Time

An orthodontist will first design a three-dimensional mouth and jaw image specific to you. Customized aligners are created following the evaluation of this image. Once the aligners have been fitted, a patient will typically wear them for most of the day. On average, Invisalign aligners will stay on your teeth for about 20 to 22 hours daily.

In general, aligners should only be removed for eating, drinking, brushing, or flossing purposes. They will also be removed when they are cleaned. Your orthodontist will likely fit you with new aligners every week to two weeks. Overall, depending on your specific case and circumstances, Invisalign treatment will take six months to two years.

Factors Affecting Invisalign Usage

The degree to which your teeth are misaligned may impact the wearing time and the overall effectiveness. More complex issues will naturally require a lengthier time commitment. The number of attachments included with aligners may also play a role.

In addition, age and sex may be factors. A patient in the middle age range (between roughly 35 and 50 years old) may experience more tooth movement and, therefore, different wear times and rates of success.  Further, some research suggests that women may be more receptive to teeth alignment than men throughout their lifetimes.

Importance of Compliance

Individuals who wear Invisalign are making a commitment that cannot be abandoned if they want the best results. This means that every patient should strictly adhere to an orthodontist’s guidelines for how long to wear an aligner. Just because they are more removable than braces does not mean that these devices should be removed unless necessary.

Moreover, cleaning them in a proper manner will preserve their life span.

My Invisalign Mobile App: A Useful Ally

Downloading the My Invisalign mobile app is a great way to stay in compliance with your Invisalign treatment. This one-stop-shop provides comprehensive information about how Invisalign works, visual tools to simulate your final results, proper cleaning advice, insurance verification to help manage your costs, and more.

Even better, you’ll have access to a time log and calendar that keeps easy track of your wearing time and upcoming appointments.

With compliance and a daily commitment of around 22 hours for up to two years, Invisalign can gift you a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.