# Invisalign in Mexico City: clear aligner care · Gloss Dent > Discuss Invisalign in Mexico City, including candidacy, supervised treatment and retention. Arrange your individual assessment at Gloss Dent. Página: https://glossdent.com/en/invisalign Your assessment ## An individual assessment for tooth alignment Invisalign uses clear, removable aligners to guide planned tooth movement. Suitability depends on tooth position, bite and oral health. Your participation matters: follow wear instructions, maintain oral hygiene and attend reviews. A treatment estimate follows diagnosis and can change as progress is assessed. It depends on your case ## Aligners or braces? It depends on your case and on how much you wear them Aligners work well in mild to moderate cases without extractions, in people who wear them 20 to 22 hours a day: in those cases, the result and the treatment time are similar to those of braces. In cases with extractions, large rotations or teeth that need to move up or down, braces give better control. There are almost always refinement aligners, and at the end a retainer is worn indefinitely. | If your assessment shows… | Usually considered… | | --- | --- | | Mild to moderate crowding or spacing, without extractions | Aligners or braces: a similar result and treatment time. | | Your plan includes extracting premolars | Braces give better control; with aligners, compensations have to be planned. | | Rotations of canines or premolars, or teeth that need to move up or down | These are the least predictable movements with aligners. Attachments (small resin bumps) help, and sometimes braces are the better choice. | | A deep bite, a crossbite or upper teeth sitting far forward | They make aligner treatment longer: a crossbite in the back teeth added about 89 days in one study. | | Gums with periodontitis | Gum treatment first; moving teeth comes after. | | You will not be able to wear them 20 to 22 hours a day | Braces are the better choice: aligners depend on that wear time. | | Easy cleaning matters to you | A point in favor of aligners: gum health was better than with braces. | General criteria from the clinical literature (sources below). They do not replace an assessment: your plan comes from the diagnosis of your own case. Is it right for me? ## Who they usually work for, and what is checked first ### They usually work well if… - You have mild to moderate crowding or spacing. - You value appearance and easier cleaning. - You can wear them 20 to 22 hours a day and take them out only to eat and brush your teeth. ### Checked first… - Your gums: if there is periodontitis, it is treated first. - Your case in person, with X-rays, photos and a scan: the American Association of Orthodontists warns that moving teeth without that assessment can cause irreversible damage. - If there are extractions or large rotations: whether braces would give a better result. - That the retainer is for an indefinite period. What to discuss ## A plan you can understand ### Suitability assessment Discuss goals, limitations and alternatives with the professional responsible for your care. ### Progress reviews Appointments allow fit and movement to be checked. Do not advance trays without instructions. ### Retention afterward Ask which retainers would be recommended, how to use them and what reviews you would need. The process ## How treatment with aligners works 1. **In-person assessment with records** Bite, X-rays, photos and a 3D scan. 2. **Digital plan** You see the simulation, and you are told what will and will not be corrected. 3. **Attachments1 appointment** Small resin bumps that help the aligner move the tooth. 4. **Daily wear20 to 22 hours a day** Each aligner is worn for 1 to 3 weeks. 5. **Checkups** Regular visits to confirm that the teeth are following the plan. 6. **Refinement aligners** They are common: on average, each tooth achieves about half of the movement planned per aligner. 7. **Retentionindefinitely** Without a retainer, teeth tend to move back. Common questions ## Before you decide ### How long does Invisalign treatment take? It depends on how complex the case is. Orthodontic treatment takes about 20 months on average, and in mild to moderate cases aligners take about as long as braces. A deep bite, a crossbite or teeth sitting far forward make it longer. ### Why are there refinement aligners? Because teeth do not always follow the digital plan to the letter: in one study, each tooth achieved on average half of the planned movement. Refinements are a normal part of treatment. ### Does switching aligners more often speed it up? No. In one trial, switching every 3 days instead of every 7 did not shorten treatment and required more refinements. ### Do I have to wear a retainer forever? For as long as you want to keep your teeth straight. In a classic study, without retention only 10% still had acceptable alignment 10 to 20 years later. ### Do mail-order aligners work? The American Association of Orthodontists warns that moving teeth without an in-person assessment, without X-rays and without supervision can cause irreversible and costly damage. ## Clinical sources The criteria and figures on this page come from these sources. They are averages from studies, not a promise for any individual case. - [Rossini 2015: which movements aligners control](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25412265/) - [Haouili 2020: accuracy of tooth movement with Invisalign](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32620479/) - [Papageorgiou 2020: aligners vs. braces (meta-analysis)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31758191/) - [Alhafi 2025: quality and stability, aligners vs. braces](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41127933/) - [Alhamwi 2024: treatment time with aligners vs. braces](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38607436/) - [Rossini 2015: gum health with aligners](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25548145/) - [FDA 510(k) K220140: wear for 20–22 hours a day](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf22/K220140.pdf) - [Brown 2026: changing aligners every 3 or every 7 days (trial)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42631873/) - [Cochrane 2023: retention after orthodontic treatment](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37219527/) - [Little 1988: alignment 10 to 20 years without retention](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3163221/) - [NHS England: questions about retainers (2019)](https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/11/orthondontic-mcn-retainers-questionandanswer-nov2019.pdf) - [American Association of Orthodontists: alert on orthodontic treatment without an in-person assessment](https://aaoinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/AAO_Consumer_Alert_DIY_2018_flier-hl.pdf) - [European Federation of Periodontology: S3 guideline (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35688447/) ## Arrange an assessment at Gloss Dent Discuss your dental health, goals and treatment options in Mexico City. Local and international patients are welcome. ## Guides to prepare for your consultation Read our articles about veneers, implants, aligners and preparing for your visit. [Explore Gloss Dent guides](https://glossdent.com/en/blog) Explore treatments ## More from Gloss Dent ### Smile Design ### Smile Design Explore a plan for shape, color and proportion, guided by an assessment. View treatment ### Dental Veneers ### Dental Veneers Compare composite and ceramic options, preparation and ongoing care. View treatment ### Invisalign® ### Invisalign® Clear, removable aligners with an individual plan and professional reviews. You are here ### Orthodontic Options ### Orthodontic Options Discuss alignment, bite and a timetable based on your diagnosis. View treatment ### Dental Implants ### Dental Implants Review implant-supported restorations, treatment stages and maintenance. View treatment ### Endodontics ### Endodontics An assessment of root canal treatment to help retain a tooth. View treatment ### All-on-X Implants ### All-on-X Implants Explore full-arch implant care, prosthesis options and follow-up. View treatment ### Smile Design ### Dental Veneers ### Invisalign® ### Orthodontic Options ### Dental Implants ### Endodontics ### All-on-X Implants