Straightening your teeth with Invisalign can take anywhere from nine to twelve months, depending on the severity of the misalignment. In some cases, up to 40 trays may be needed to achieve the desired results, and the process may take up to two years. When I began my Invisalign treatment, I had to wait six weeks for my mold to be evaluated. After that, I was given 17 treatment trays and three overcorrection trays.
Each tray was used for two weeks, totaling 40 weeks. Overcorrection trays are used when teeth don't move into place as expected at the end of the treatment sequence. My orthodontist kept me motivated by counting how many trays I had completed and telling me how many days were left. I'm currently on tray 36 of 62 and have been using them for a year.
Initially, I changed the tray every 10 days, but now it's two weeks per tray due to some complicated rotations. My dentist informed me that around 50% of Invisalign patients need refinement trays after the twentieth tray. I'm still waiting to hear from my dentist about whether I'll need refinement trays or not. The goal of Invisalign is to move your teeth gradually over time in a natural process.
When I receive new trays, I'll have to reapply the composite balls to the positions of my teeth as specified by Invisalign. It's important to follow all instructions related to cleaning your aligners, wearing them for the required amount of time each day, and attending follow-up appointments. You can take your aligners off for a short period each day (usually no more than two hours). I used mine constantly for 18-20 hours a day, only taking them out when eating or going out at night.
Instead of metal braces, orthodontists use a series of custom-made trays to gradually move teeth into place.
