Ask a doctor

How Long Will It Take Invisalign to Close Gap from Tooth Extraction?

I had four teeth extracted. They are the two behind eachthe canine on top and the ones adjacent on the bottom. How long will it take Invisalign to close this gap?

Doctor Answers 4

Invisalign can close the gap between the teeth

October 22nd, 2009
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

The teeth which are removed are the first premolars. And the aligners can close the gap  between 3 to 6 months. The rapid movement  at orthodontic treatment can damage your tooth and cause root resorption. 

Bruce Vafa, DDS


Beverly Hills Dentist
5.0 out of 5 stars 1 review

Closing a Space

October 23rd, 2009
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

If the space is large it will take a long time since Invisalign moves teeth slowly. Invisalign is better at tipping the tooth rather than moving the whole tooth and root. If the space is big, I ask, why aren't you going with a dental implant to replace the space, or why aren't you enlarging the space to place an if it isn't big enough? If you are already into treatment, this may not be an option anymore, but if you haven't begun, you may be able to plan for an implant. I would look into it.

M. Andrew Atwood, DDS

M. Andrew Atwood, DDS
Bellevue Dentist
3.0 out of 5 stars 2 reviews

Invisalign may take a while to close tooth gap

October 20th, 2009
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

However, Invisalign can put a fake tooth in the aligner so it looks like you have a tooth there while the gap closes. It can take longer to move a tooth through the bone than keeping it in place and rotating or tipping it, but, depending on how large of a gap you have, it can be accomplished in time.

Clinton Timmerman, DDS

Clinton Timmerman, DDS
West Des Moines Dentist

Very slowly

October 19th, 2009
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

A nice thing about Invisalign is that it works in a slow and controlled fashion. Teeth that move too quickly can be damaged and lost due to resorption. Invisalign by default moves teeth at about 0.2 mm per aligner, so a bit less than 1/2 mm per month. If you have 14 mm to close, plan on 28-30 months, or 2.5 years. Sometimes the space is not large due to the tooth that was extracted had been pushed out of the way (or crooked), leaving a gap of 8-10 mm, taking 16-20 months.

Web reference: http://www.bestseattledentist.com/html/invisalign-seattle.html

Lance Timmerman, DMD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.