Is Invisalign Teen Right for My Child? Woodbridge, VA

Conditions Invisalign Teen Treats

Invisalign Teen can treat a broad range of orthodontic conditions, including:

• Crossbite
• Crowded teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Widely-spaced teeth

Invisalign Teen remains effective at correcting mild to moderate cases. Patients who opt for this system most often have crowded teeth, gap teeth, or misaligned teeth. Invisalign Teen is not always suitable for children with more severe orthodontic issues, such as missing teeth or major malocclusions. Children must also be ready for the level of responsibility that comes with using Invisalign Teen.

Choosing Invisalign Teen for Your Child

Straightening one's teeth comes with a certain level of personal responsibility. Invisalign Teen requires attention and care from the patient. Parents should make sure their teen is ready for this level of accountability.

One of the benefits of Invisalign Teen is that it is removable. Many teens enjoy this, as they can easily remove the aligners for eating, drinking, and activities. However, this means that they must also remember to safely store them and remember to put them back for treatment to progress.

Teens must wear their aligners between 20 to 22 hours a day. Each aligner has a blue-to-clear compliance indicator, acting as a gauge for how long each aligner must be worn. The indicator turns clear once it is time for the aligner to be replaced. In the event the teen does lose his or her aligner, we can begin the process of getting replacement aligners.

One of the advantages of choosing Invisalign Teen is fewer appointments. While braces need to be adjusted every few weeks, Invisalign’s progress requires checking every few months. To make an informed decision regarding their child’s readiness for Invisalign Teen, parents must understand their child’s individual needs and level of personal responsibility.

Comfort Level

Wearing traditional braces may cause your child some minor pain and discomfort. The metal brackets may irritate gentle tissues in the mouth and cause mouth sores. Patients can expect to feel some pain during and after adjustments, too, as the teeth shift into new positions.

Invisalign Teen is a suitable alternative for patients with a low pain tolerance, helping them achieve the smile they desire with minimal discomfort. While a child may feel pressure from each new set of aligners, it should never be enough to cause significant discomfort or pain. A child's treatment plan will set the aligners enough to straighten the teeth but not enough to be overbearing or unbearable.

Best Age to Use Invisalign Teen

Invisalign Teen is only suitable for children who already have all of their permanent teeth. For most teenagers, this happens by age 13. With a thorough examination, we can determine whether Invisalign Teen is the right treatment option for each of our patients — and, if it is, when to begin.