If there’s one stage of life when appearance matters most to someone, it’s the teenage years. So while most teens need braces to straighten their teeth, it’s understandable if they don’t want to spend years in brackets and wires. Fortunately, there’s another way to get great results without the embarrassment of “metal mouth”: Invisalign Teen. Below, you’ll learn more about how it addresses the unique needs of teenagers. But if you have additional questions, or if you’d like to schedule a consultation with our Invisalign-certified dentist, Dr. Joseph Zicchino, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
HOW DOES INVISALIGN TEEN WORK?
Just like Invisalign for adults, Invisalign Teen moves the teeth into proper alignment through a series of clear aligner trays. It’s usually a great choice for the same issues that are treated with metal braces, including crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites, and more (although we may recommend traditional orthodontic treatment for severe cases.)
After a consultation to make sure Invisalign is right for your teen, we’ll take digital impressions and X-rays of their teeth and jaws. Then we’ll send those images to the Invisalign lab to have their aligners made, and you’ll return around 3 weeks later for them to pick up their first set of trays and begin treatment.
Each pair of aligners are usually worn for 2 weeks before moving to the next set. Throughout the process, your teen will return for progress visits every 4 to 8 weeks to pick up additional trays and make sure everything is on track.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INVISALIGN TEEN AND INVISALIGN FOR ADULTS
For your teen to get their results on time, it’s crucial for them to wear their aligners at least 20 to 22 hours per day. Oftentimes, teens find it more difficult than adults to comply with this requirement and are also more likely to lose or misplace their trays. To address those issues, Invisalign Teen includes the following features:
- Blue indicator dots – Each set of trays includes a blue dot that fades over time, allowing Dr. Zicchino to see how your teen is doing with their “tray time” at each progress visit.
- 6 replacement trays (free of charge) – Since teens are more susceptible to losing their trays (especially if they’re in the habit of putting them in a napkin instead of a protective case during meals), Invisalign will make 6 replacement trays at no extra cost.
BENEFITS OF INVISALIGN TEEN
Chances are that a teenager would say the best thing about Invisalign is avoiding the embarrassment of metal braces. As an experienced dentist, however, we know that there are many other benefits as well!
Invisalign aligner trays are smooth and comfortable, and active teens don’t have to worry about breaking a bracket or wire during athletic or recreational activities. And since the aligners are removed before meals, teens can still eat hard or crunchy foods without concern./p>
And from the standpoint of their overall oral health, it’s so much easier to keep their teeth and gums clean with Invisalign compared to traditional braces, so the risk of cavities after treatment is a lot lower.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION TODAY
Invisalign is an outstanding alternative to braces that’s helped more than 8 million teens and adults straighten their teeth. And with Dr. Zicchino’s advanced training and many years of experience, you can count on getting fantastic results as well. If you’d like to help your teen take the first step towards a healthy, beautiful smile, contact us today to schedule a consultation!