Invisalign was originally recommended for adults only as it was thought that teens wouldn’t wear the aligners for the proper amount of time. There were also some concerns because teenagers may not have all of their adult teeth in place when it’s optimal to start treatments. This meant that traditional metal braces were often the best recommendation for teens.
While metal, lingual, and clear braces are still an option, Invisalign is also recommended for teens. There is even an Invisalign teen solution. Invisalign offers some amazing benefits that teens and parents can both really appreciate. At Sunrise Orthodontics, our expert staff can offer a full assessment to let you know if Invisalign is the right approach for you.
How Often Do I Have to Wear My Aligners?
It’s recommended that you wear your aligner as often as possible, even while you sleep. However, you can take them off for short periods of time to take photos or while you eat. On average, you should be wearing your aligners about 22 hours a day for the treatment to work according to schedule.
Is There Anything That I Cannot Eat While Using Invisalign?
One of the best benefits of using Invisalign is that you’re not restricted in your diet at all. There are no brackets or wires to be concerned about. You also take off your aligners while you eat, so you don’t need to worry about difficulty in cleaning your teeth or the liners from sticky or difficult to clean foods.
However, this does mean that you need to brush and floss your teeth after every meal thoroughly. You should also brush and clean your aligners. You don’t want food sitting on your teeth or under your gums while you wear your aligners because it can lead to cavities.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
Like any treatment, the length of time will depend on your individual bite issues. On average, Invisalign treatments take 12 to 18 months from start to completion. That is an average, so your orthodontist might recommend a different treatment time frame to give you the most optimal results.
How Does Invisalign Teen Work?
Invisalign works through a series of aligners that are specially created to fit your exact bite. The aligners are changed as your teeth move. Each new aligner is made to gradually shift your teeth from their current position to a new position until the last aligner when your smile reaches the predetermined spacing. The great thing about Invisalign is that you can see what your smile will look like before starting the treatment.
Invisalign for Teen was designed specifically for teenage patients. They added some features to better treat alignment issues for this age set. Teenagers do sometimes still have the eruption of adult teeth. To plan for this, eruption tabs are available to space for teens who still have permanent teeth that need to come into place. Another issue that was a concern with teenage patients was wear time. It was originally thought that teens would not be responsible enough to wear their aligners for the prescribed amount of time. Invisalign Teen added compliance dots to their teen aligners. These markings are at the back of the aligners, where they won’t be seen. But your orthodontist will be able to visually tell whether the teen has been compliant in their use.
What Happens if My Teen Loses an Aligner?
If your teen loses an aligner, call our office. We can get you a replacement aligner as soon as possible. You can’t move to the next aligner step until you’ve fully completed wear time for the aligner you’re on. The wait time for a replacement aligner is fairly minimal, but this may push back your treatment time slightly.
How Much Is Invisalign for Teens?
As with any orthodontic treatment, the total cost varies based on the type of bite issue and treatment time length. The average cost is around $5,000, which is in the same range as many traditional brace options.
The Benefits of Invisalign for Teens
Parents and teens choose Invisalign because there are some excellent benefits to this treatment.
- No Food Restriction – Because the aligners are removed when you eat, teens can continue eating the foods they like without worrying about damaging braces.
- Less Painful – Braces are not exceptionally painful, but there is discomfort when teens go in to have their braces tightened. If braces or brackets break, it can be uncomfortable to fix.
- No Worry When Playing Sports – Teens who play sports with braces can risk injury if they do not wear a mouthguard because the braces themselves can damage the inside of the mouth if there’s any trauma. This is not an issue with Invisalign.
- Can Be Removed – This is a great benefit because your teen can take pictures without their aligners in. They can also attend special events without the aligners so that they don’t have to worry about brushing their teeth after meals during the event or other issues that might be concerning for them.
