Invisalign for Teens | Why It’s Becoming More Popular
Posted on November 16, 2021
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 its 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 Cardinal 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 10-12 weeks, for appointments that last an average of about 20 minutes in length. People who choose to go the braces route, typically have 11 office visits throughout the duration of their treatment (30-40 minutes/each).
Appointments alone are a big reason why Invisalign has become so popular among teens nowadays. Fewer appointments mean 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 the orthodontic treatment which is extremely important when moving teeth into a new position.
“What Happens if My Teen Loses His/Her 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, a lack of motivation will always result in an issue arising or a setback 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 Cardinal Orthodontics, we believe in our teens and have seen great results with their motivation when it comes to Invisalign.
Invisalign for Teens at Cardinal Orthodontics
Still not convinced Invisalign is the right choice for your teen? At Cardinal, we offer a guarantee to our patients that if their Invisalign treatment is not working out with their lifestyle, we will happily allow them to switch to braces at no charge. If you would like to learn more about Invisalign at our office, please visit our website at: www.cardinalorthodontics.com.
Schedule a FREE consultation today for your teen to see if Invisalign is the right option for them! Give us a call at 314-962-6242 OR schedule an online video exam by clicking here.
