Invisalign® For Teens
About Invisalign® For Teens
Straight teeth do more than improve your teen’s confidence. They make cleaning and eating easier, which can improve their overall dental health.
Invisalign provides a modern approach to straightening teeth, offering an alternative to traditional braces that is comfortable, convenient, and aesthetically pleasing.
Key Takeaway
Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually shift teeth into their proper position. The aligners are worn 22 hours a day and are only removed for eating and cleaning. They are used to correct a range of orthodontic issues, including crowded teeth, crooked teeth, bite issues and more.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign utilizes a series of clear, removable trays that are custom-made to fit snugly over the teeth.
The clear, plastic aligners are specially designed to gradually shift the teeth into their proper position, correcting a range of orthodontic issues, including crowded teeth, crooked teeth, bite issues, and more.
The trays are switched out every one to two weeks, gradually moving the teeth into their desired position.
Invisalign vs. Braces
Both options provide effective teeth straightening, but Invisalign offers a few unique advantages that make it particularly appealing for teens and their parents.
- Discreet appearance: Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign aligners are almost invisible.
- Removable: Invisalign trays are removed for eating, drinking, and cleaning. This means your teen won’t have to make any changes to their diet or oral hygiene routine.
- Comfort: The smooth plastic material of the aligners is much more comfortable than metal braces, which can irritate the mouth and gums.
- Fewer appointments: With Invisalign, there are typically fewer in-person appointments required compared to traditional braces.
- No food restrictions: Because the aligners are removable, there are no restrictions on what your teen can eat. They can still enjoy their favorite foods without worrying about damaging their braces.
- Minimal impact on sports or musical activities: Invisalign aligners are also more convenient for teens who play sports or a musical instrument, as they can be removed during these activities.
- Reduced risk of oral health issues: Traditional braces can make it difficult to properly clean and floss, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Invisalign aligners are removed for cleaning, making it easier to maintain good oral hygiene.
Orthodontic Evaluation for Invisalign
If Stanley Pediatric Dentistry is your dental home, we will monitor your oral development as part of your routine check-ups.
If it is determined that you could benefit from orthodontic treatment, we will schedule a consultation to discuss Invisalign and other treatment options in more detail.
During the evaluation, we will take digital scans or impressions of your teeth and create a 3D model to show the projected movement of your teeth during treatment. This allows you to see the potential results before even starting treatment.
Once it is decided that Invisalign is the right choice, we will create a personalized treatment plan and order the custom aligners.
Starting Treatment
We will send all the imaging to Invisalign where they will use their advanced computer software to create a series of aligner trays. The trays are then sent back to our office, and we can begin treatment.
The initial visit will be about one hour. At this appointment, we will place tooth-colored attachments made from composite resin on your teeth. These attachments look like little bumps on the surface of your teeth. These attachments help to guide the movement of your teeth.
Your teeth are prepped, and a bonding agent is put on the teeth that will have an attachment. Your hygienist or dentist will use a template aligner that indicates where the attachments should go. The composite resin is placed into the spaces in the template aligner and then the aligner is placed over your teeth. A special light is used to cure and harden the resin.
Once the attachments are placed, the first aligner in the series will be placed on your teeth. We will show you how to insert and remove the aligners and will have you practice a few times.
We will send you home with 6 or 7 aligners that will need to be changed every 1 to 2 weeks. The frequency of changing aligners may vary depending on your specific treatment plan.
What to Expect the First Week
The first few days with Invisalign may feel strange as you get used to wearing the aligners.
You might lisp a bit when you speak, and it might feel like you are producing a lot of saliva. This is all very normal and should subside within a few days.
You can expect to feel some discomfort or pressure on your teeth during the first few days of wearing a new aligner. This is because the aligners are gently moving your teeth into their desired position.
Remember
For Invisalign to be effective, it’s important to wear the aligners for 22 hours per day. The only time they should be removed is when eating, drinking anything other than water, and cleaning your teeth.
Follow-Up Appointments
We will schedule follow-up appointments every 8–12 weeks to monitor the progress of treatment and make any necessary adjustments.
During these appointments, we will also provide you with the next set of aligners in your series.
How to Clean Invisalign
To keep your aligners clean and clear, it’s important to follow these tips:
- If possible, brush your teeth after eating before putting the aligners back in. This will ensure that no food particles get trapped between the aligners and your teeth.
- Brush them twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
- If you notice that the aligners are not as clear, use the Invisalign cleaning system or soak them in denture cleaner to remove stains.
- Rinse them with lukewarm water after removing them from your mouth.
FAQs About Invisalign
What do I do if I lose or break an aligner?
If you lose or break an aligner, call your dental office right away for further instructions.
How long does Invisalign treatment take?
Treatment time varies for each individual. On average, it takes 12–18 months for teens to complete Invisalign treatment. However, the exact length of treatment will depend on the severity of their orthodontic issues and their level of compliance with wearing the aligners.
Can a 14-year-old use Invisalign?
Invisalign is suitable for young teens, but they have to be responsible enough to follow the treatment plan and wear the aligners as directed. In some cases, traditional braces may be a better option for younger teens.
Does insurance cover Invisalign?
Many dental insurance plans cover at least some of the cost for orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign. We recommend checking with your insurance provider to see what is covered under your plan. You may also be able to use tax-free dollars from your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to help cover some of the cost.
Invisalign is a great way to straighten teeth without the hassle and discomfort of traditional metal braces.
We are excited to offer Invisalign to our teen patients as a convenient and effective orthodontic treatment option.
If you have any questions about Invisalign or would like to schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Stanley Pediatric Dentistry.
If you are searching for a pediatric dentist that is accepting new patients, we can help! To book an appointment at our pediatric dental office in Overland Park, KS, call (913) 345-0331 or complete the online inquiry form.
