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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

October 22nd, 2009

Invisalign can close the gap between the teeth

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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. 


Beverly Hills Dentist

October 23rd, 2009

Closing a Space

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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
Bellevue Dentist

October 20th, 2009

Invisalign may take a while to close tooth gap

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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
West Des Moines Dentist

October 19th, 2009

Very slowly

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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.

Learn more: http://www.bestseattledentist.com/html/invisalign-seattle.html

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD

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.