How long does Invisalign take?
What Invisalign's maker and the orthodontists' own association say about treatment time, and the typical length every clear aligner brand states for itself, from at-home brands to in-office systems. Every figure opens its source.
Invisalign's maker says: “The exact timeline can vary depending on the severity of your dental misalignments or conditions, but the average Invisalign treatment time is 12 to 18 months.” (Invisalign) Its shortest figure, 6 months, is for mild to moderate cases. Of the 70 clear aligner brands taking new patients, 60 state a typical length, between them 2-24+ months. The 10 at-home, remote brands among them state 3-8 months, because they take only milder cases. The AAO: “The number of aligners and treatment times needed to correct misaligned teeth varies based on the individual’s orthodontic issues and the movements needed to correct them.” (AAO)
What Invisalign says about its treatment time
In the maker's own words, from its own pages. Its figures rest on its own data and the studies it cites.
- On average: “The exact timeline can vary depending on the severity of your dental misalignments or conditions, but the average Invisalign treatment time is 12 to 18 months.” (Invisalign) And, for adults: “For adults, Invisalign treatment usually takes around 12 to 18 months” (Invisalign)
- At the shortest: “Invisalign treatment can be completed in as little as 6 months” (Invisalign). Its footnote gives the basis: “Based on mild to moderate malocclusion (defined as crowding and spacing up to 6mm, and overjet and overbite up to 6mm and assuming one week wear), treatment times vary depending on Invisalign product type, wear time, case complexity and must be determined by your doctor.” (Invisalign) It adds that “you could start seeing results in a matter of weeks” (Invisalign).
- By type of case, as a cost guide describes them: What each costs: .
Treatment time by brand
The typical length each brand states for itself, grouped by how it supervises treatment, shortest first. How a brand supervises decides which cases it takes, so a shorter figure describes milder cases, not faster aligners. Each length opens the source that states it.
At-home, remote review3-8 months
Impressions or a scan kit at home, a plan reviewed online, aligners mailed to your door. Suits mild crowding or spacing, when you are comfortable with no in-person exam. 11 brands, 10 of them stating a typical length.
Is Invisalign faster than braces?
The AAO: “most people have their braces for 12-24 months” (AAO) On aligners, it says “they don't work as quickly, can be easily lost since they're removable, and treat a much narrower set of orthodontic cases” (AAO). The systematic reviews that measured treatment time, newest first:
- Alhafi et al. 2025, Eur J Orthod · 15 trials, 1,084 patients
“No significant differences were found in treatment quality or duration between clear aligners and fixed appliances in non-extraction cases, although sensitivity analyses suggested shorter treatment duration with clear aligners.”
- Alhamwi et al. 2024, Clin Oral Investig · crowding cases
“Based on currently available information, there was no significant difference in the treatment duration between the CA and FA groups in mild to moderate crowding cases.”
What makes treatment shorter or longer
Your case
“The number of aligners and treatment times needed to correct misaligned teeth varies based on the individual’s orthodontic issues and the movements needed to correct them.” (AAO)
Wearing them 22 hours a day
“Typically, each aligner is worn for 1 week at a time, at least 22 hours a day, and moves teeth a fraction of a millimeter at a time.” (AAO) “Wearing them consistently and as instructed by your orthodontist will help insure your teeth reach their ideal positions.” (AAO)
Changing aligners
“On average, each set of aligners is worn for a week or two before switching to the next set. The total number of aligners will depend on your specific needs.” (AAO)
Before the first aligner
“Clear aligners are not usually fabricated on site, and delivery from the manufacturer can take 4-6 weeks.” ()
Common questions
How long does Invisalign take?
Invisalign's maker says: “The exact timeline can vary depending on the severity of your dental misalignments or conditions, but the average Invisalign treatment time is 12 to 18 months.” (Invisalign) It also says “Invisalign treatment can be completed in as little as 6 months” (Invisalign), for mild to moderate cases. The AAO: “The number of aligners and treatment times needed to correct misaligned teeth varies based on the individual’s orthodontic issues and the movements needed to correct them.” (AAO)
How long does Invisalign take for minor cases or gaps?
Invisalign's shortest figure, “Invisalign treatment can be completed in as little as 6 months” (Invisalign), is stated for mild to moderate cases: “Based on mild to moderate malocclusion (defined as crowding and spacing up to 6mm, and overjet and overbite up to 6mm and assuming one week wear), treatment times vary depending on Invisalign product type, wear time, case complexity and must be determined by your doctor.” (Invisalign) An orthodontist sets the actual timeline. Brands that say they close gaps: .
Sources checked 2026-10-09. Each brand's length is as its own source states it. This page summarizes published information; an orthodontist who examines you sets your timeline.