Can Invisalign be Used on Teenagers?

Teenage years are some of the hardest, most self-conscious years of an adolescent’s life. It’s also a time when many kids need orthodontia. In the past, teenagers had to deal with a mouth full of wires, metal brackets, and rubber bands. Not only were traditional braces painful, but hard to clean while making kids feel even more self-conscious about their appearance. However, there’s a new sheriff in town that forgoes traditional braces. Invisalign is a revolutionary new dental treatment that’s discrete, comfortable, and easy to maintain.

At Summit Dental Group, our Boise dentists are sensitive to the needs of our teenage patients and are pleased to recommend Invisalign as a more timely and less obvious alternative to traditional braces. That’s why we’d like to provide you with the following guide to what conditions they treat and why they are a good choice for teenagers.

Invisalign Basics

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses clear tray aligners instead of traditional metal braces. They are made using a flexible plastic that is light but strong enough to shift and align teeth into the proper position. These trays will be switched out every few weeks for new ones until teeth are moved to their intended position.

The best part? Invisalign aligners can be removed so teenagers have full control over how long they wear them. To be effective, however, Invisalign aligners should be worn between 20 – 22 hours each day. However, they can be easily removed to eat and drink as well as brush and floss their teeth.

Conditions Invisalign Treats

Many mild-to-moderate conditions can be treated with Invisalign aligners. These include:

Crowded teeth

When teeth are crowded, it can be hard to brush and floss thoroughly. This allows the buildup of harmful bacteria, plaque, and tartar, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Overbite

If your teenager has an overbite (where their top teeth overlap their bottom ones), they will eventually suffer from tooth wear and jaw pain.

Underbite

Opposite of an overbite, an underbite is when your teenager’s top teeth rest behind their bottom ones. This can make it difficult to chew and speak clearly. Teeth are also more prone to wear.

Crossbite

When a teenager has portions of an overbite and portions of an underbite, this is called a crossbite, which can lead to wear and chipping. Furthermore, gums are more likely to recede, and teeth can press into the tissues of the mouth, leading to painful gums or bone loss.

Invisalign Process

Even the process of getting Invisalign aligners for you teenagers is easy compared to traditional braces. It all starts with a consultation with your dentist at Summit Dental Group. We will take a detailed look at your child’s oral and medical history while reviewing their dental goals. This will provide us with the information we need about the work that needs to be done.

Using an iTero Element® scanner, a model of your teenager’s teeth and gums will be made. These images will then be transferred to a computer where the Invisalign program will develop a detailed treatment plan for them. During this time, you will be able to see how their teeth will be moved over time and what their mouth will look like when done.

Your dentist will then send the model to an Invisalign lab, which will construct your child’s individual trays. Once we receive them, we will schedule a fitting session. After that, the trays will be swapped out every two weeks, and you’ll have periodic appointments with the Summit Dental Group team to ensure everything is going to plan.

Summit Dental Group

If you have a teenager who needs orthodontic work but doesn’t want to feel uncomfortable and self-conscious with a mouthful of metal braces, Invisalign is a great option. Give the Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group a call at (208) 314-2275 to set up a consultation or fill out our online form. We’re in the business of making our patient’s smiles healthy and beautiful.