The thought of a brand new smile is exciting. So exciting that most people want to know exactly how soon clear aligner brands like Invisalign can make it happen. It’s a complicated process, and treatment times can vary drastically—but that doesn’t stop people and companies from speculating. If you’ve searched “how long does Invisalign take?” you probably found several different answers. That might seem confusing, but don’t worry. We’re here to explain.

How do clear aligners work?

To know how long clear aligners might take, it’s important to understand how they function. When you begin treatment with a brand that offers in-person care like Linea, the dentist or orthodontist will take a scan of your teeth. These scans are essential for creating aligners that fit perfectly. In collaboration with a manufacturer, they’ll create a series of clear plastic trays designed to move your teeth a tiny bit at a time.

You’ll typically wear each tray for around 10 days before moving to the next one. The number of trays depends entirely on the complexity of your case, and your dentist may alter your wear schedule depending on how fast or slowly your teeth are progressing.

How long do clear aligners take?

Here’s the million-dollar question. Some research suggests that clear aligners can work slightly faster than braces, but comparing clear aligner brands is where things get tricky. Many sites say Invisalign can take between six and 18 months, and Linea is around the same (4–13+ months), but you may have seen certain clear aligner brands advertising even shorter average treatment times. So what’s the deal?

In short, the treatment time depends on the complexity and severity of your condition, no matter which brand you choose. If you only have a mild case of spacing, it could take just 4–6 months. But if you have a severe case that includes a bite misalignment like overbite or underbite, it could take twelve or more. The difference is which cases a particular brand chooses to accept. Let’s take a closer look.

In-office clear aligners

These are systems like Invisalign or Linea, which include some in-person oversight from a dentist or orthodontist. This hands-on care means they can supplement your aligners with orthodontic attachments like buttons—tiny tooth-colored shapes that help improve orthodontic tooth movement. Combined with robust oversight, this allows the aligners to treat more complex cases, which inherently take longer. That’s why these brands can sometimes take a year or more.

Take Linea, for example. They sort patients into three different tiers based on the severity of the case. Tier 1 are the cases they can confidently treat within four months, while Tier 3 includes attachments and other treatments, and make take 12 or more months. Most patients, however, fall into Tier 2, which usually takes 5–12 months.

At-Home Clear Aligners

These treatments are the ones you’ll often see advertising average treatment times of just a few months. They don’t involve in-person oversight, instead relying on take-home dental molds and virtual check-ins. They aren’t lying about their average timelines—but that’s because they have a more limited scope of treatment. Typically, these services only address minor crowding and spacing. Because they don’t attempt to treat more complex misalignments or bite issues, many of their cases only take a few months.

Plus, when at-home aligner companies estimate your treatment plan length, they’re assuming you’ll wear them for 20–22 hours every day, you won’t have any mid-treatment issues, and you won’t need any refinements afterward. Of course, not every treatment goes this smoothly, so the actual treatment time might end up being longer than their prediction.

Eliminating office visits cut costs, but it also means that you won’t get the robust oversight that allows dentists to effectively track your progress and address potential issues as they arise.

Other factors that influence how long clear aligners take

The severity of your misalignment is the most significant and influential factor, but it’s not the only one. Here are a few other things that can alter your clear aligner timeline.

Compliance

There’s a little responsibility involved here. You’ll have to wear your aligners for 20–22 hours every single day so that they can apply consistent pressure to your teeth. If you don’t, each set will take longer to achieve its specific movements, extending your overall treatment time. Think you might have trouble remembering to wear your aligners consistently? Set an alarm on your phone or keep them in a place you won’t miss them—like next to your bed or near your bathroom sink.

Age

Orthodontic treatment isn’t just for adolescents. It works just as well for adults. And a survey from Orthodontics Australia showed that 62% of Australian adults were considering orthodontic treatment. Unfortunately, research has shown that moving teeth takes longer for adults than it does for adolescents. This doesn’t mean you steer clear of clear aligners if you’re over a certain age. It just means you might take a little longer than you would’ve in your teenage years.

Treatment Response

Every person is unique, so your body might respond to treatment differently than someone else’s. And that includes dental shifts. Certain people’s teeth and gums might simply be more receptive to movements than others.

Complications

Clear aligner treatment typically goes smoothly, but sometimes, teeth just don’t move as expected. This could extend your treatment, but if you go with an in-office brand like Linea, the good news is that your dentist can address issues as they arise, keeping your teeth on track.

How to help clear aligner treatment move quickly

Remember: It takes time for teeth to move. You might want to accelerate your treatment, but patience is important. However, you can take certain measures to help avoid certain pitfalls.

• Wear your aligners consistently: As we mentioned, sporadic aligner wear can extend your treatment time. Make sure to wear them 20–22 hours every day.
• Keep your mouth healthy: Missing a day of brushing or flossing won’t necessarily throw off your timeline, but it could lead to decay, gingivitis, and cavities, which all can affect orthodontic treatment.
• Care for your aligners: Clean your aligners thoroughly whenever you take them out, avoid leaving them out in the heat or where pets can get them, and keep them away from hot water. A broken or warped aligner means you’ll have to wait for the manufacturer to make a new one, delaying your treatment.
• Use chewies: These are little rubber cylinders that you bite to help seat your aligners in place. Most aligner brands and dentists include them for free, and they help ensure your aligners fit properly.
• Ask your dentist questions: If any issues arise, it’s important to address them early, so tell your dentist if anything feels off.

Final thoughts

We get it. A new smile is exciting, and you want to see it ASAP. While it’s not possible to snap your fingers and make it happen, it is possible to set solid expectations for your treatment time. Ultimately, it depends on the complexity of your misalignment, so consult a dentist for an accurate assessment of your dental health before you dive in.