Did you know that Invisalign for teens is becoming more and more popular every
day? Many people make the assumption that Invisalign is only an option for
adults who want to straighten their teeth in a discreet way. Despite common
belief, Invisalign is actually a great treatment option for people of all ages
– even teens!
History of Invisalign
When Invisalign made it’s first appearance in the orthodontic field in 1998, there
were many restrictions on what types of cases it could and could not treat.
Since then, these clear, removable aligners have undergone many technological
changes and now have the ability to treat complex orthodontic cases that they
once couldn’t. At Spannhake Orthodontics, we have successfully treated many patients
with Invisalign who were experiencing complex issues such as: crowding,
spacing, and various bite abnormalities.
Why Invisalign for Teens is a Great Option
No Wires or Brackets
One thing many teenagers
love about Invisalign is the fact that there are no wires or brackets that can
irritate the mouth or fall off the tooth. This means, little to no emergency
appointments!
Quick Appointments | Fewer Appointments
Invisalign appointments
are much quicker than a typical braces adjustment, and less frequent. We see Invisalign patients once
every 8 weeks, for appointments that last an average of about 15 minutes in
length. People who choose to go the braces route, typically are seen every 4 weeks throughout the duration of their treatment with appointments averaging 30 minutes.
Appointments alone is a
big reason why Invisalign has become so popular among teens nowadays. Less
appointments means less time missed from school and work!
No Food Restrictions
Since there is no actual
metal hardware on the teeth with Invisalign, there are no food restrictions
during treatment. Teens enjoy the fact that they do not have to give up their
favorite foods like they would have to if they went with traditional braces.
Not having any hardware
on the teeth also allows the teen to brush and floss like normal, instead of
having to take the extra time to brush and floss around wires and brackets.
This helps with overall oral hygiene throughout orthodontic treatment which is
extremely important when moving teeth into a new position.
“What Happens if My Teen Loses their Aligner?”
This is a legitimate
concern among many parents when considering Invisalign for their teenager.
However, we have seen in our office that if a teen is determined or excited
about getting started with Invisalign, they are overall more responsible about
keeping track of their trays and wearing them. Why? We attribute this to the
fact that some kids do not want brackets on their teeth at any cost. If teens
are not motivated about their Invisalign treatment, they would most likely not
be motivated with traditional braces either. No matter what treatment type they
choose, lack in motivation will always result in an issue arising or a set back
of some sort. In order to get the best results possible, motivation and
determination from the patient is a must!
We understand that life
happens! If an aligner does get
lost, give our office a call to discuss what steps need to be taken to keep
your teenagers treatment on course. Normally, our doctor will advise the
patient to move on to the next set of their assigned aligners to avoid any
unplanned movement or shifting. Losing an aligner does not drastically affect
overall treatment, but it is important to notify your orthodontist if this were
to happen. At Spannhake Orthodontics, we believe in our teens and have seen great
results with their motivation when it comes to Invisalign.
#spannhakeorthodontics #invisalign #invisalignteen #orthodontictreatment #invisaligntreatment
