3 Benefits of Invisalign® for Teens

Invisalign® for teens is a subtler alternative to straightening teeth with conventional braces. Using transparent plastic trays, Invisalign® aligns a teenager's teeth more discreetly and effectively. Teenagers tend to be more self-conscious about their appearance than any other group and judge themselves and other teens with a higher level of scrutiny.

Poorly aligned teeth can lower their confidence and make them more self-conscious. The aligner trays in these treatments are virtually invisible when worn, so the patient gets to show off their smile as the aligners use a small amount of gradual pressure to push their teeth toward a better alignment.

3 Reasons to explore Invisalign® for teens

Some teenagers would rather skip getting orthodontic treatment if it meant having to put up with metal braces and the responsibility that comes with them. These appliances have a very noticeable appearance and are cemented to the front of the child's teeth and have to be tightened regularly by their orthodontist. Traditional metal braces appear in important parts of a young person's life, like yearbook and prom photos. In addition, kids who end up wearing metal braces often report being teased or bullied as a result of it.

Some of the benefits of choosing Invisalign for teens include:

1. Discreet treatment

With Invisalign clear aligners, a teenager can straighten their smile without visually announcing they are getting orthodontic treatment. The trays are usually not noticeable in the wearer's mouth unless they have picked up stains and discolorations.

Orthodontists typically recommend removing the trays before eating or drinking anything besides water to reduce the risk of staining. In addition, patients wear a set of aligner trays for about two to three weeks, so teens can easily keep them stain-free.

Invisalign aligners are also more comfortable than braces because each aligner meets the teen's individual needs. They are designed to fit the mouth snugly. Teenagers can engage in normal activities, such as competitive sports or band practice while wearing their Invisalign aligners.

2. Compliance monitoring

Clear aligners are often not recommended for children since treatment requires the patient to wear the appliance for at least 22 hours daily and only remove them for food and drink consumption, as well as brushing and flossing. In addition, kids typically become more responsible by the time they reach their teenage years. Invisalign comes with compliance dots that indicate if the teenager is wearing their aligners as recommended by their orthodontist.

However, some teens may want to take out their aligners more often solely because they are removable. Other teens may forget to wear their aligners or be too busy to stick to their treatment plan. The blue dots on the aligners are designed to disappear when appropriately worn for two to three weeks. Visible blue marks on a teen's used aligners indicate they might not wear their aligner trays as often as they should.

3. More convenient treatment option

Invisalign clear aligners are removable devices that make treatment more convenient than having to deal with braces.

Braces are fixed in place after the installation, so patients must learn how to eat and clean their mouths with a bunch of brackets and wires cemented to their teeth. Meanwhile, teens who get treatment with clear aligners simply have to remove their appliances for meals and oral hygiene, so they do not have to restrict their diet or learn new brushing techniques to navigate around braces.

People with braces have a strict diet to avoid hard and sticky foods. These foods may include popcorn, hard candies, caramel, nuts, and chips. They have to avoid hard and sticky foods while wearing braces because they can get stuck in the brackets and wires, as well as break the braces and cause an emergency visit to the orthodontist. With the flexibility of clear aligners, teens can eat whatever they want and not give up their favorite snacks during their treatment period.

Clear aligners do not increase the patient's risk of developing tooth decay or gum disease like braces do. These oral issues occur because food particles and other debris tend to get stuck underneath the wires and brackets, providing safe places for food particles, bacteria, and the acids they produce to accumulate. This buildup is not an issue with Invisalign aligners since they are removable, and teens can continue their oral hygiene habits as normal.

Explore treatment with Invisalign®

Is your teenager ready to show off a straighter smile? Invisalign® for teens can help boost their confidence without announcing to the world that they are working toward the smile they want. Call or visit our Reston clinic to set up an appointment with our orthodontist.

Request an appointment here: https://www.orthodonticprecision.com or call Precision Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry at (703) 391-8800 for an appointment in our Reston office.

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