Invisalign for Adults and Teens: What Changes With Age
If you spent years assuming that straightening your teeth was something you should have dealt with in middle school, there is a reasonable question underneath that assumption: does age decide whether orthodontic treatment is still an option? Parents of teenagers tend to arrive at the same question from the other direction, wondering whether there is a right moment to begin. This article sets out what age means for treatment, how long treatment takes, who provides and supervises it, and what wearing aligners asks of the person wearing them.
Is there an age limit?
For orthodontics in general, not aligners specifically, a person is never too old. The best time for braces is generally between the ages of 9 and 14, and that adult braces are just as effective, though it might take a little longer to achieve the desired results (Cleveland Clinic).
Healthy teeth can be orthodontically treated at any age (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
Age is a different question from whether aligners suit a particular case. That one is handled in a separate article on whether aligners are right for your case.
How long does treatment take?
Published figures on length describe orthodontic treatment generally rather than aligners specifically, and they differ.
For some people orthodontic treatment takes less than one year, while for others it can take up to two years or longer, and treatment times look different for everyone (Cleveland Clinic).
Most people are in treatment from one to three years, followed by a period of wearing a retainer (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
Who provides and supervises aligner treatment?
Removable aligners are an option for treating orthodontic problems under the direct supervision of a dentist or orthodontist. Orthodontic treatment may be provided by your dentist or by an orthodontist, and this will depend on the orthodontic experience of the dentist and the severity of the case (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
How aligners are worn
Each set of aligner trays is worn for approximately two weeks and is then swapped for the next set in the series. Unlike metal braces, clear aligners are removable, but they have to be worn for at least 22 hours every day, and they should come out only to eat, drink and brush (Cleveland Clinic).
Wear time is a practical question for a teenager and an adult alike. The mechanics of the trays themselves are covered separately in how clear aligners work.
Next steps
Our office is at 147 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lodi, NJ 07644, and Dr. Steven Liao is our dentist. Our Invisalign page is on the same site. If you want to be seen as a patient, start at our first-visit page.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. "Teeth Braces." Updated 2023-01-13. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24601-teeth-braces
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). "Braces." https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/braces
- Cleveland Clinic. "Orthodontics." Updated 2022-10-12. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24285-orthodontics
