How Long Does ClearCorrect Take to Straighten Teeth?

Patients who are interested in ClearCorrect have many questions about the process, but one of the most common is, “How long does the process take?” Because no two orthodontic cases are exactly alike, the answer can vary from one person to the next. ClearCorrect is fantastic because it’s a very predictable treatment, but there are some factors that can impact the accuracy of the timeline we give you. Here’s what you should know.

According to ClearCorrect the average treatment time is 12 to 18 months. Since this is the average, there are outliers—some patients may achieve results sooner and others may even take longer, but the vast majority of patients will see their results fall somewhere in this timeframe.

During your consultation with us, we’ll be able to give you an estimate of your ClearCorrect treatment time based on your unique needs. Every movement of every tooth is planned by your dentist, with the end result being a treatment plan that tells us how many aligners you will need and how long you’ll have to wear them. This may not be exact, but it’s usually a fairly accurate ballpark estimate of what you can expect.

There are two primary factors in how long you’ll need to wear your ClearCorrect aligners: your orthodontic case and your compliance with treatment.

As you might imagine, patients who have more severe orthodontic issues have longer treatment times than patients who only need to correct slight misalignments. A patient who is getting Clear Correct as an adult to correct minor shifts in the teeth after having braces as a teen may only need to wear aligners for a few months; patients who have significant bite problems that need to be corrected in addition to spacing or crowding could need to wear ClearCorrect for more than 18 months. These issues are all taken into account when we plan your treatment.

While your unique orthodontic issues are factored into your treatment plan, one thing we’re not able to plan for is how well you comply with the guidelines and instructions for wearing your aligners. In order for ClearCorrect to work as intended, you must wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. While traditional orthodontic braces are affixed to the teeth and work to straighten them all day long, your aligners only work when you wear them. You should only remove them to eat, drink, brush, and floss.

If you remove your aligners often and leave them out for long periods of time, your treatment time will be extended. During your appointments with us, we may ask you to wear your current set of aligners longer or even move back to a previous set if we see that your teeth aren’t moving as they should. Furthermore, continuing to switch to new sets of aligners every two weeks if you’re not wearing them the required amount of time can cause damage to your teeth.

If you’re wondering how long it will take to straighten your teeth with ClearCorrect the best way to find out is to see us for a consultation. Contact us today at 914-723-4707 to schedule an appointment.