Invisalign for Teens: What Parents Should Know

As a parent, it becomes very important during the teenage years to have the best possible dental care for your children, particularly as they go through immense physical and emotional development. Orthodontic treatment is one of the most common dental issues during this age, and Invisalign is steadily gaining popularity as an extremely successful means for teens, mainly because it is nearly invisible and very comfortable to wear. It represents a much more modern alternative to the traditional metal braces. Yet, many parents have several questions related to its effectiveness, suitability, and maintenance. Following is all you should know about Invisalign for teens.

Understanding Invisalign

Through a range of clear, removable plastic aligners, Invisalign provides a subtle approach to teeth alignment. In contrast to traditional braces, which utilize metal brackets and wires, confidentiality is maintained by the smooth plastic employed by Invisalign. Therefore, they are comfortable and fit well over your teen’s dentition. The aligners are molded according to impressions and digital scans from your adolescent’s teeth for utmost precision and efficacy when treating them.

Advantages for Teenagers

Here are only some of the advantages of opting for Invisalign for your teen:

• Aesthetic Appeal: Perhaps the number one reason teens love Invisalign is that it is almost invisible. It can align their teeth without shouting to the world from their face, so it is the right choice for young teens who care about looks.
• Comfort: With their smooth plastic material, the Invisalign aligners definitely have much easier time with the gums and cheeks compared to the traditional painful metal braces that cause soreness.
• Removability: Another major advantage associated with aligners is that Invisalign is removable during meals, brushing, and flossing. It allows teenagers to enjoy all kinds of their favorite foods during their treatment and maintain good oral hygiene.
• Fewer Orthodontic Visits: Using the case of traditional braces, readjustments are highly recommended, tightening of wires, after specific periods. As such, on average, teens will only need to see their orthodontist every 6-8 weeks for checkups when using Invisalign, which consequently saves time and reduces the number of different kinds of appointments.

Is Invisalign Suitable for Teens?

Invisalign is suitable for most teenagers. However, certain factors must be accounted for. Aligners work best on mild to moderate orthodontic issues, including:

• Crowding: Overlapping or extremely close teeth
• Spacing: Gaps between the teeth that can impact your smile’s appearance
• Crossbite: Upper teeth fitting inside the lower teeth, which misalign
• Overbite/Underbite: A condition where upper teeth overlap with the lower teeth in an incorrect form. 

For more serious orthodontic problems, traditional braces may still be in the better interest. An orthodontist reviews the individual case of your teenager to determine if Invisalign would be appropriate.

The Need for Compliance

One of the major factors that ensure the success of Invisalign treatment is compliance. As such, teens are advised to wear their aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours a day; this in most cases generally translates to not removing them except when one is eating, brushing, or flossing.

As a parent, encourage and assist in ensuring that your teenager indeed follows through with the wearing of aligners as instructed. You can remind them to put the aligners back in after each meal or discuss compliance related to following orthodontic instructions. Adherence to this may prevent delays in treatment and probably additional orthodontic work.

Maintaining Oral Hygiene with Invisalign

Invisalign gives another benefit which is that it is more hygienic than metallic braces. In that manner, the teenagers can brush and floss just like they used to before putting them on since they are not attached to any metal brackets or wires. Some suggestions of how to maintain good oral hygiene while using invisalign are: 

• Brush and Floss Regularly: Show your teenage child how to brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. Gently wash your aligners with a toothbrush and little soap too. 
• Rinse After Eating: After eating, rinse mouth with water always before putting back in aligners so that food particles do not interfere or get stuck between the teeth and aligners respectively. 
• Avoid Foods And Drinks That Stain If Possible: It is advisable to avoid dark-colored food and drink such as coffee, tea or soda because these will stain your aligners even if they can be taken off easily.

Cost Considerations

The cost of Invisalign treatment for teens may vary, as with any other case, based on case complexity, treatment time, and the specific orthodontic practice. The average cost is similar to traditional braces; however, it’s always good to discuss payment options and insurance coverage with your orthodontist.

Most of the orthodontic practices will offer flexible financing plans to help the treatment be more affordable. In addition, some dental insurance plans pay for part of the treatment; hence, it is always worth contacting an insurance provider to know your options.

Length of Treatment

Each person has their own individual requirements in terms of how long invisalign treatment should take. On average, the period of time needed for orthodontic treatments lasts between 12 and 18 months. Nevertheless, there are a few exceptional instances when it can take less or more than that. At the first appointment, your child’s orthodontist will provide a clearer estimate of what to expect regarding duration.

Monitoring Progress

It is also important that the parent is part of the treatment, by following up with the teenager during treatment. Follow-up appointments are scheduled with the orthodontist, and as a parent, one gets an opportunity to discuss their concerns and know the progress on treatment. It is a good time to remind and emphasize reminders of consistent wear of the aligners.

Encouragement and Support

As with any orthodontic treatment, parental support during Invisalign treatment is important to a teenager. Keep your teen on track for the treatment plan and cheer him or her on. No matter if they finished a series of aligners or simply noticed a change in their smile, it helps to keep them motivated during the process if their progress is recognized.

Conclusion

Invisalign is the newest, most effective, and most discreet way for teens to realize a straighter smile. It is, therefore, important that you, as a parent, understand the benefits, responsibilities, and requirements that Invisalign brings, so you can support your child throughout their orthodontic journey. Your support in this respect will go a long way in guaranteeing that your teenager realizes the beautiful, confident smile they deserve through encouraging aligner wear compliance, good oral hygiene, and staying active in all things orthodontic. If you are considering Invisalign for your teen, you will want to see a Plano orthodontist to discuss their needs and the best treatment possible.