How Long Does It Take for Invisalign Trays to Arrive After Your Scan?

• Dr. Boris Pinhasov, DDS
• May 3, 2025
• 4:12 pm

Medically reviewed by Dr. Boris Pinhasov, DDS, Board-Certified Orthodontist, ABO Diplomate | Last Updated: September 2026

Invisalign trays arrive at your orthodontist's office about two weeks (10 to 14 days) after your digital scan. Once your treatment plan is approved, the Invisalign lab manufactures your custom aligners and ships the full set to your provider. Below is the stage-by-stage timeline from scan to your first tray fitting, explained by Dr. Boris Pinhasov, a Board-Certified Orthodontist in Queens, NY.

From the day your teeth are scanned to the day you fit your first tray, plan on roughly two weeks. Here is where that time goes:

• Initial consultation and iTero digital scan: 30 to 60 minutes.
• Treatment plan finalization (ClinCheck): 3 to 5 business days.
• Custom aligner manufacturing (3D printing and quality checks): 5 to 7 business days.
• Shipping to your orthodontist: 2 to 3 business days.
• Total, scan to first tray fitting: about 2 weeks.

These are typical industry ranges and can vary by case and lab volume.

At BP Smiles Orthodontics, the front end of that timeline moves quickly because the scan is fully digital. A quick pass with the iTero scanner builds a 3D model of your teeth and bite, and the file reaches the Invisalign lab the same day. There are no physical molds to mail in, which is what used to add days to the old process.

As Dr. Boris Pinhasov puts it, “After we scan the patient’s teeth using our advanced scanner, it typically takes about two weeks to receive the Invisalign trays and start the treatment.”

The wait is not idle time on the lab’s end. Three things are happening between your scan and your first fitting:

• Treatment plan finalization. Your orthodontist and the Invisalign technicians build a digital simulation, called a ClinCheck, that maps every tooth movement in order. Dr. Pinhasov reviews the ClinCheck and approves it before anything is printed. This is where accuracy is set, so a day or two of back-and-forth here is worth it.
• Custom manufacturing. Every tray is fabricated for your teeth at a specific stage of treatment. The lab uses 3D printing and thermoforming, then trims, polishes, and inspects each aligner.
• Quality assurance and shipping. Once the set clears inspection, it is packaged and shipped to your orthodontist. Even with fast carriers, transit adds a couple of days.

A complete Invisalign case is often 20 to 40 trays, and those trays are produced and shipped together rather than one per visit. That is why the initial wait covers the whole series rather than a single aligner. When your box arrives, your orthodontist typically hands you several sets at once so you can change trays at home on schedule and come back only for periodic check-ins. The two-week wait buys you months of aligners up front.

Usually the two-week window is fixed by the manufacturing and shipping steps, so most patients start right on schedule. A few factors can shift it slightly:

• Complex cases may need extra planning time on the ClinCheck before manufacturing begins.
• A refinement or plan revision can pause production until the update is approved, though this is uncommon on a first order.
• Lab or shipping delays, such as a holiday rush, can add a few days.

If you have a wedding, a photo, or another event on the calendar, tell your orthodontist at the scan appointment. Dr. Pinhasov can flag a case as a priority when there is a clear clinical reason, which may move planning and approval along faster on his end.

Once your aligners come in, you will book a short visit to pick them up and start treatment. For a closer look at that visit, see how long it takes to get Invisalign put on. At the appointment your orthodontist will:

• Check that the first tray seats correctly with no pressure points.
• Place small tooth-colored attachments if your plan calls for them, which help the aligners grip and move specific teeth.
• Review wear and care: aligners stay in 20 to 22 hours a day, out only for eating and cleaning.
• Give you a schedule for switching trays. Dr. Pinhasov generally recommends moving to the next tray about every two weeks, with the exact cadence set by your plan.

The two-week wait is only the start. Once you begin wearing aligners, most patients notice movement within 4 to 6 weeks. Total treatment time varies with the case:

• Mild cases (minor spacing or small rotations): 6 to 12 months.
• Average adult cases (moderate alignment and bite correction): 12 to 18 months.
• Complex cases (significant movement, attachments, or refinements): 18 to 24 months.

Case complexity, whether attachments are needed, and how consistently you wear the aligners all drive the final number. For a fuller breakdown, read how long Invisalign takes overall.

BP Smiles Orthodontics offers Invisalign at 208-09 Union Turnpike in Queens, NY. Dr. Boris Pinhasov is a Board-Certified Orthodontist and ABO Diplomate, and he reviews every ClinCheck plan personally before your trays are ordered. If you want to know your exact timeline for your case, book a consultation and we will scan your teeth and walk you through the plan. Call 718-290-9444 or schedule your Queens Invisalign consult.

How long does it take to get Invisalign after the scan?

About 2 weeks. Once your iTero digital scan reaches the Invisalign lab, treatment plan finalization takes 3 to 5 business days, manufacturing takes 5 to 7 business days, and shipping back to your orthodontist takes 2 to 3 business days. Scan to first fitting averages 14 days.

How long does it take to make Invisalign trays?

Aligner manufacturing takes 5 to 7 business days at the lab. Each tray is custom 3D-printed from your approved treatment plan, then trimmed, polished, and quality-checked. The full set, often 20 to 40 trays for a complete case, is produced together and shipped to your orthodontist as one batch.

Why does Invisalign take about 2 weeks to arrive?

The two weeks cover three steps: your orthodontist and Invisalign technicians finalize the digital treatment plan (3 to 5 days), the lab fabricates each aligner with 3D printing and quality checks (5 to 7 days), and the trays ship to the office (2 to 3 days). The all-digital scan is faster than the older mailed-impression method.

Can I get my Invisalign trays faster?

In most cases the two-week timeline is set by the manufacturing process. Your orthodontist can flag your case as a priority when there is a strong clinical reason, which can speed up planning and approval on the office side. Ask Dr. Pinhasov about options at your scan appointment.

How long does Invisalign treatment take overall?

Most adult cases finish in 12 to 18 months. Mild cases can complete in 6 to 12 months, and complex cases may run 18 to 24 months. The total depends on case complexity, whether attachments are used, and how consistently you wear the aligners 20 to 22 hours a day.

Where can I start Invisalign in Queens, NY?

BP Smiles Orthodontics provides Invisalign at 208-09 Union Turnpike in Queens. Dr. Boris Pinhasov is a Board-Certified Orthodontist and ABO Diplomate. Call 718-290-9444 or schedule a consultation to get started.

• Invisalign (Align Technology), Digital Treatment Experience: iTero scanning and ClinCheck planning.
• American Association of Orthodontists, Clear Aligner Therapy overview.
• Insight into clear aligner therapy protocols and preferences among AAO members (peer-reviewed, PubMed).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please schedule a consultation with our team to discuss your individual needs.