How long do clear aligners take?

The usual range

Around 6 to 18 months for cases aligners suit. Fixed braces typically run longer — roughly 18 to 36 months — but that comparison is misleading on its own, because the two are not usually offered for the same case.

Your dentist gives a case-specific estimate at the planning appointment, once they know how many trays the plan needs.

What makes one case longer than another

How far the teeth have to move, and in what direction. Rotating a tooth, closing a gap and correcting how the teeth meet when you bite are different amounts of work. Bite correction in particular tends to extend a plan.

The variable you control

Aligners only move teeth while they are in. They are designed to be worn for the large majority of the day and night, coming out for meals and brushing — and inconsistent wear extends treatment, straightforwardly, because the trays spent that time in a case instead of on your teeth.

This is the genuine trade-off against fixed braces. Braces apply continuous pressure whether or not you are thinking about them. Aligners hand you both the convenience and the responsibility.

Treatment does not end when the trays do

A retainer follows. Teeth naturally drift back toward their original positions after treatment, so retention is part of the treatment rather than an optional extra — and relapse without a retainer is the most common way people lose a result they paid months for.

When people say aligners "did not last", this is almost always what happened.

What to ask at the planning appointment

Ask for the estimated number of trays and the estimated end date, what happens if a tray does not fit as expected, how often you will be reviewed, and what the retention plan is once the active phase finishes. Those four answers describe your actual timeline better than any range.

Full detail on the braces and aligners page; see also what clear aligners cost. Consultation ₹500, waived against treatment.