Invisalign Teen

Traditional braces are the staple treatment for correcting misaligned teeth for people of all ages, including children and teenagers. Clear aligners are becoming popular as well but used to be reserved for grownups. However, exciting developments in the world of orthodontics are opening up new avenues of orthodontic treatment for younger patients. One of the most effective ones is Invisalign Teen.

In recent times, there has been a growing adoption of Invisalign treatment for kids. Up to 95% of experienced Invisalign orthodontists agree that Invisalign Teen is the future of orthodontic treatment for teenagers. This post details what this treatment is all about, how it works, and the pros and cons of Invisalign for teenagers.

What is Invisalign Teen?

Invisalign Teen treatment is a form of orthodontic treatment that involves using a set of removable aligners customized to the growing mouths of teenagers to straighten the teeth and achieve the perfect smile. This cutting-edge treatment uses clear BPA-Free plastic for teeth straightening.

Although braces are still an excellent choice to correct teeth malformations in patients of all ages, Invisalign teen aligners offer many benefits over traditional wire braces. The aligners are tailored to the developing mouths of teenagers and include features such as eruption tabs to make room for molars.

How Does Invisalign Teen Treatment Work?

Invisalign Teen works by applying pressure to the teeth in the same way as metal brackets and wires. This gentle pressure helps to move teeth into their proper place. Patients get a set of aligners plates, and each tray of aligners is worn for about two weeks before moving to the next one. Ideally, the result at the end of the treatment is a perfect smile.

At OMG Smiles, we take a systematic approach to designing and customizing Invisalign treatments for teenagers. It begins with a complete scan of your teenager's mouth to create a 3D model of the teeth and gums. Using this model, our expert orthodontists will explain how your teen’s smile is likely to change during the course of the treatment and set clear, realistic expectations. A set of clear aligners is then created based on the model. Your teenager is expected to wear these aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily to achieve desired results.

Benefits of Invisalign Teen

According to a recent New York Times report, more teens favor Invisalign teen treatment over traditional braces. This is because of many of the benefits offered by this treatment that is particularly favorable to teenagers. Here are a few of them:

No Food Restrictions

Teens want to be able to eat anything they want. The brackets and wires of braces are susceptible to damage from food that is particularly chewy, sticky, or firm (the specific type of foods teens tend to favor).

When a teenager has braces, foods like popcorn, sweets, and pizza are off the table until the braces are removed. You can imagine how frustrating that can be for a child. Unlike braces, your child can remove Invisalign before eating or drinking. Because of this, teens are able to eat anything they like for the entire duration of their treatment, and none of their preferred meals are off-limits.

Less Irritating

Users of the traditional braces record having visible spots inside their mouth where the brackets and wires connect with the inner part of their lips or cheeks. No parent will want this for their child. Invisalign Teen will not cause the type of friction which might bring about irritation.

Fewer Emergencies

Using Invisalign means you won’t have to deal with damages like loose wires or braces. This is a major advantage it has over traditional braces. Most teens play sports or engage in other rigorous activities that put them at risk of injuries even more than adults. With Invisalign teen treatments, the braces are removable, so there’s minimal risk of damage or emergencies due to broken braces.

Socially Beneficial

Perhaps the reason why kids favor Invisalign is how it benefits them socially. Your teen will still be able to participate in school photographs, social gatherings, and all of the meals they enjoy while wearing the aligners because they are barely noticeable.

Boosts Confidence

You hope your adolescent will recognize the possibilities you have always seen in them. Teens who use Invisalign transparent aligners are twice as likely as those who use traditional metal braces to experience an increase in self-esteem.

What Conditions Does Invisalign Teen Treat

Invisalign Teen is a cutting-edge orthodontic system that can correct numerous issues with a teen's teeth which conventional braces were used to correct in the past. These conditions include:

• Underbite
• Tense teeth due to crowding
• Sets of teeth that are very far apart
• Crossbite
• Overbite

How Long Do Teens Wear Invisalign?

The recommended wear time for Invisalign aligners is 20 to 22 hours per day. If the trays aren't worn for the prescribed amount of time every day, the duration of treatment may increase. Every two weeks, you'll have to swap out the alignment tray for a new one in the set. The time frame may change based on the particulars of the patient's treatment. At the start of your Invisalign Teen treatment at OMG Smiles, we will figure out how long each set of Invisalign Teen aligners should be worn.

Generally, the treatment may take as little as 12 weeks for minor alignment modifications in teens. However, the severity of their tooth misalignment will determine how long the process takes. Treatment for most alignment issues takes about 12 months, but more serious cases can take up to two years.

Precautions and Drawbacks of Invisalign Teen Treatment

Invisalign Teen treatment is at the cutting edge of orthodontic treatment today. While the popularity of this treatment option has been soaring in recent years, there are still a few possible drawbacks, especially when it is used for teenagers. Here are some of them.

Requires Compliance

The aligners won't be able to shift your teenager's teeth into place without consistent use. It’s easy for adults to understand and follow this instruction, but more difficult for kids. But once you explain it to them, most teenagers are eager to wear their aligners as instructed to achieve a more attractive grin.

Invisalign Teen plates also come with blue compliance indicators to let parents and doctors know how often teenagers use them. Parents must ensure usage compliance to get the best results.

Potential for Loss

Since they can be removed when necessary, aligners can potentially be misplaced. The hundreds of dollars spent on transparent plastic aligners may be wasted if your youngster takes them out to eat lunch and then leaves them on the table. You might want to take note of your teen's sense of responsibility or attach a reward for the daily presentation of Invisalign.

Conclusion

Weighing the pros and cons, Invisalign is obviously a great treatment option for teens. You can help your children get back their smiles today with this impressive treatment option. Schedule a free consultation at OMG Smiles to talk to a professional about this orthodontic treatment and how it can work for your teen.