How Long Do You Wear Invisible Braces?

Invisible braces are designed to safely and gradually straighten your teeth as you wear them. The pieces resemble whitening trays that you may see in your dentist's office, but they are made of a clear thermoplastic that enables you to appear as though you are not wearing them at all. Your orthodontist determines how long you need to wear your invisible braces.

On average, most people wear invisible braces for approximately one year. This can vary greatly, however, depending on your individual orthodontic needs. You will need to wear your invisible braces generally at least 20 hours out of each day. You can remove them for short periods of time when you need to, unlike traditional braces.

While you are being treated with invisible braces, you will probably need to see your orthodontist every six to eight weeks so he can check your progress. While you are there, he will likely give you several new sets of invisible braces to change out periodically. Most people change out their aligners every two weeks or so, but this will also depend on your orthodontist's overall plan for your teeth.

You need to clean your invisible braces just as you would your teeth. You can either use a toothbrush and toothpaste or a cleaning kit from your orthodontist. Some foods can stain the aligners, so it is important that you brush often and especially after each meal.