There are numerous options to choose from when considering which orthodontic treatment to choose for your teen. Traditional silver braces, ceramic braces, and Invisalign are all excellent options that can treat a wide array of orthodontic problems. You may have asked yourself if your teen should get Invisalign, and that’s a great question. Oftentimes, Invisalign is thought of as an orthodontic solution for adults who want their treatment to be discreet, but Invisalign is an excellent orthodontic treatment for all ages. In fact, Invisalign Teen, was designed specifically with teens in mind. Invisalign Teen offers all of the same benefits of Invisalign Full, but with added features your teen will love! 

What is Invisalign Teen?

Invisalign Teen uses clear aligners, instead of traditional wires and brackets, to straighten your teen’s teeth. The aligners are made using a precise 3D image of your teen’s teeth. A series of clear aligners that easily snap into place over the teeth are changed out every two weeks as your teen’s teeth gradually shift into the correct position. Clear aligners must be worn 20-22 hours per day and should only be removed when eating or drinking. Invisalign Teen includes extra aligners in case any are lost during treatment. The aligners also have a blue compliance indicator to ensure they are being worn long enough to be effective.

Is Invisalign Teen as effective as traditional braces?

Yes! When deciding between traditional braces or Invisalign Teen, consider that both Invisalign and braces have been found effective at straightening teeth and the cost is comparable as well.

What are the health benefits of Invisalign?

Invisalign can decrease your teen’s risk for developing cavities because it is much easier to brush and floss teeth without braces present. It can be difficult to clean and remove food particles between the teeth and brackets with traditional braces. Oftentimes there are also special dental products that one must use with traditional braces, such as thread flossers. If your teen runs out or forgets to use them, there is a greater chance of poor dental hygiene.

It’s also important to consider the mental health benefits of Invisalign. Many teens are already self-conscious and they may be hesitant to wear traditional braces because they are worried it will attract unwanted attention. Invisalign is the answer to those concerns.

What are the specific advantages of Invisalign Teen?

With Invisalign, clear aligners are removable, which is helpful in many instances. Active teens may want to replace their clear aligners with a mouthguard when playing a sport so they do not have to worry about getting hit in the mouth by a ball and causing damage. Traditional braces cannot be removed and can cause serious damage to the mouth and teeth if struck with a ball. 

Another advantage your teen will enjoy is not having restrictions on the foods they can eat. When wearing traditional braces, there are many restrictions on crunchy, hard, chewy, and sticky foods. Since the aligners can be removed, there are no such restrictions for Invisalign. 

If you would like to explore if you should get your teen Invisalign, contact Dr. Jill Bruno and the amazing team at Bruno Orthodontics today.