At Rockland Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics, we believe everyone has the right to be themselves and to take on the world with courage and confidence! And when it comes to our teen and tween patients, we know that creating a great smile can go a long way.
Invisalign clear aligners are a great orthodontic option for some teens, especially if they feel self-conscious about traditional braces or want the convenience of being able to eat, drink, and brush like normal. Invisalign offers teens consistent results — as long as they put in consistent effort by wearing their clear aligners 20 to 22 hours per day.
How does Invisalign treatment for teens work?
Invisalign treatment begins with an initial appointment where your orthodontist will make a digital scan of your mouth using an iTero Element scanner. The scanner takes 6,000 images per second to create a complete 3D picture of your teeth. Using special computer software, the Rockland team will map out the path to your best smile.
Once your custom-designed aligners arrive, you will wear them daily — for 20 to 22 hours a day — as they gently shift your teeth in the right direction. Every one or two weeks, you’ll change to a new set of aligners, as directed by your orthodontist. The total length of treatment varies from person to person, but you’ll probably start to see subtle changes within the first several weeks.
To help teens stay on track with their Invisalign treatment, aligners can include a small blue dot that will change colors to indicate if they are being worn as needed. Your orthodontist may also recommend applying SmartForce attachments — small, tooth-colored bumps that act like handles for the Invisalign aligners to push against. And for teens and tweens with overbites, precision wings can help to gradually move the lower jaw into place.
Invisalign vs. braces? Which one is right for my teen?
Pursuing orthodontic treatment is a big decision, and one that can have an impact on your teen’s smile for many years to come. Here are a few ways that Invisalign is different from traditional braces:
- Invisalign clear aligners are removable. While traditional braces are affixed to the surface of the teeth, Invisalign aligners are worn like retainers and can be easily popped out to eat, drink, or brush.
- There are no forbidden foods — bring on the popcorn! Since you can remove your aligners to eat, no food is “off limits” during treatment — feel free to eat popcorn, caramel, apples, carrots, or gum. Just make sure to brush your teeth and replace the aligners after you eat.
- Aligners are less irritating. With Invisalign, there are no brackets to rub against the inside of the mouth — and fewer emergency trips to the orthodontist for broken brackets or poking wires.
- There are no brackets to brush around. No tricky nooks and crannies to brush or wires to floss around here! Remove your aligners to brush and floss your teeth — and be sure to give your aligners a gentle brush each day while you’re at it.
Make an appointment at Rockland Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics to discuss whether Invisalign treatment for teens might be a good option for you! Our providers are happy to discuss all the options and customize a treatment plan for your unique goals.