How long Invisalign takes, and how it works

Page updated October 14, 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Abraham Thomas and Dr. Jennifer Loucks-Buren.

Invisalign usually takes up to about 9 months for a few slightly crooked teeth and longer, often a year or more, for crowding and bite problems. It works by moving your teeth a little with each new set of clear aligners, which you switch every one to two weeks and wear 20 to 22 hours a day.

How long Invisalign takes

The number of aligners in your series depends on how far your teeth need to move (AAO), and a tray worn for one to two weeks means that a series of 26 trays worn two weeks each, for example, would take about a year. Your orthodontist's plan sets the exact number.

How Invisalign works

Invisalign is a brand of clear aligner, made by Align Technology since 1998 (Healthline). Like braces, aligners put gentle pressure on your teeth to move them gradually (AAO). Instead of brackets and wires, you wear a series of custom-made clear plastic trays. Each one is shaped slightly differently from the last, so each new set keeps your teeth moving in the right direction (Cleveland Clinic). The AAO says the aim is a healthy bite, moving all the teeth, not only the ones that show when you smile (AAO).

Under the gums, the biology is the same as braces: steady pressure causes bone to be removed on one side of a tooth's root and rebuilt on the other (AAO). That's why consistent wear matters so much.

Invisalign treatment, step by step

1. Consultation and records. The orthodontist checks your teeth and jaws with X-rays, photos and digital scans, makes a diagnosis and plans which tooth moves where, and in what order, in the aligner software (AAO).
2. Manufacturing. Lab technicians make each aligner from the plan (Cleveland Clinic). Aligners are manufactured and shipped, which alone can take several weeks (AAO).
3. Attachments and first aligner. Tiny tooth-colored attachments may be bonded to some teeth to help the aligners grip and move them, then your first aligner is fitted (Cleveland Clinic).
4. Switching trays. You change to the next set every week or two (AAO), with check-ups every six to ten weeks (AAO).
5. Refinements, if needed. It may take more time and more aligners to reach the same result as braces (Cleveland Clinic).
6. Retainer. When the series ends, a retainer holds the result (AAO).

How many hours a day you wear Invisalign

The AAO says 20 to 22 hours a day or as prescribed (AAO); Cleveland Clinic says 22 to 23 hours (Cleveland Clinic). You take them out only to eat, drink anything other than water, brush, floss and clean the aligners (Healthline) (AAO). After eating, brush before putting them back in, and always put them in their case, never in a napkin or pocket (AAO).

Each new tray can feel tight. Pressure or soreness typically eases within a few days; soft foods, an ice pack on the jaw and over-the-counter pain relievers help (Cleveland Clinic).

Is Invisalign faster than braces?

Not necessarily, and the sources don't fully agree:

• The AAO's guide to what to expect says aligners don't necessarily move faster: with scans, manufacturing, attachments and getting used to them, aligner treatment can take just as long as braces, and speed depends more on your case and how consistently you wear what's prescribed (AAO).
• The AAO's clear aligner page says that for many patients aligners can be faster, depending on how complex the case is (AAO).
• Cleveland Clinic says traditional braces may fix problems more quickly, and aligners may need more time and updates for the same result (Cleveland Clinic).

Braces, for comparison, are usually worn 12 to 24 months (AAO). See how long braces take.

Invisalign and other clear aligner brands

Invisalign is the oldest and best-known brand, introduced by Align Technology in 1998; others include Spark, ClearCorrect and uLab (Healthline). Invisalign aligners are made from a flexible thermoplastic Align calls SmartTrack (Healthline). Healthline says some research suggests Invisalign is more effective than other clear aligners, and that versions made since 2010 deliver force better (Healthline). Whatever the brand, treatment needs an orthodontist's supervision from start to finish (AAO).

Who is a good candidate

Aligners suit crowded or crooked teeth and some mild to moderate bite problems (Cleveland Clinic). They may not work as predictably for severe bite problems, big rotations and large gaps (AAO), and Healthline notes that bridgework on some teeth can make Invisalign a poor fit (Healthline). Most of all, you need to be someone who will keep them in: if you'd be tempted to take them out often, Healthline says they may not be the best choice (Healthline).

What makes Invisalign take longer

• Not wearing them enough. Inconsistent wear can extend treatment or compromise results (AAO).
• A lost or damaged aligner. Contact your orthodontist straight away (AAO); a lost aligner can set things back (AAO).
• Hot water. It can warp the plastic and change the fit (Healthline).
• Complex movements. Aligners may not work as predictably for severe bite problems, significant rotations and large gaps (AAO).
• Cavities or gum problems mid-treatment; keep seeing your dentist (AAO). Drinks other than water trapped under aligners can stain and cause cavities (AAO).

Tips to stay on schedule

• Put aligners in their case every time they come out, never a napkin, pocket or purse, and keep them away from pets (AAO).
• Drink only water with aligners in (AAO).
• Brush after eating before putting them back (AAO).
• Rinse and clean them in lukewarm, not hot, water (Healthline).
• Keep every appointment (AAO).
• Call your orthodontist about sharp pain, pain lasting more than a few days, bleeding or swollen gums, or a tray that feels loose (Cleveland Clinic).

Does Invisalign work?

For the right cases, yes. Cleveland Clinic says aligners fix crowded or crooked teeth and some mild to moderate bite problems, but aren't an option for everyone (Cleveland Clinic); the AAO says they typically treat light to moderate problems (AAO). Healthline notes that research on Invisalign's effectiveness is limited and often small, and that it seems more effective for some kinds of tooth movement than for complex problems (Healthline). Your orthodontist decides whether your case suits aligners.

What Invisalign costs

Clear aligners cost $4,000 to $7,000 in CareCredit data published in 2022, and averaged $5,108 in 2024 (CareCredit). Longer, more complex treatment usually costs more. See how much Invisalign costs or try the cost calculator.

After Invisalign: retainers

Finishing your last aligner isn't the end. Teeth tend to drift back (AAO), so you'll wear a retainer, usually full time for a few months and then at night indefinitely (AAO). Compare types of retainers.