How Invisalign for Teens Improves Smiles

A teenager dealing with a crooked smile or uneven bite may benefit from Invisalign® for Teens as a corrective treatment. The adolescent years are often filled with social pressure and a desire for acceptance; any problems or concerns with a teen’s smile could create self-confidence concerns. Traditional braces can treat alignment or spacing problems, but these are highly visible solutions that can cause embarrassment. Clear aligners are more low profile but yield positive results with a teen’s smile.

Benefits of a healthy smile

Correcting problems with tooth and bite alignment does much more than just improve the look of a smile. The position of teeth can affect a teen’s oral health. Problems with eating and speaking can lead to nutritional deficiencies, discomfort, or pain. A beautiful, straight smile could be the avenue toward a healthier mind and body for a teen.

Uses of Invisalign for Teens

Several different oral conditions could mar a teen’s smile. Some deal with the individual position of teeth, while others deal more with the overall position of the top or lower set of teeth. Invisalign can treat a number of these conditions to restore optimum function and appearance.

Crooked teeth

Teens may struggle to present a uniform smile because a few teeth are twisted or turned out of line. This positioning does not always impact oral health but can cause stress or embarrassment in teens. Invisalign uses the trays to apply consistent but gentle pressure to a row of teeth and move them into a uniform position. Though treatment times vary depending on the patient, achieving results could take up to a year.

Misaligned teeth

In addition to changing the look of the smile, misaligned teeth can impact how well a teen can chew. For some teens, the jaw is too small for the teeth. For others, genetics or a habit like thumb-sucking contributed to misalignment. The treatment puts pressure on the teeth that have moved out of place along the jawline and force them to return to the ideal location. The severity of alignment contributes to the length of the treatment. Still, teens can expect to wear the aligners for six to 12 months.

Bite correction

Several bite issues can keep teenagers from having a brilliant, confident smile, and Invisalign can help many of them. With an overbite or underbite condition, the entire row of teeth could overlap on either the top or the bottom. With an open bite or crossbite, the teeth may not properly align when the mouth is closed. Bite problems put uneven pressure on the teeth and cause wear and tear, leading to more painful problems in the future.