Teenagers are often self-conscious, and those facing orthodontic treatment tend to be self-conscious about wearing braces. That’s one of the reasons why Invisalign and Invisalign Teen have become so popular. More teenagers today are using clear braces and clear aligners for their treatment instead of traditional metal braces. Is Invisalign Teen right for your child?
Ohana Orthodontics has offered teenagers the option of clear or metal braces or Invisalign for many years. We’ve seen patients who don’t mind the look of traditional braces, while others much prefer the nearly invisible look of clear aligners. Invisalign Teen is a great option for most of our teenage patients, but not all of them. Is Invisalign right for your child? We can help you find out!
What Is Invisalign?
What exactly is Invisalign, and what’s the difference between Invisalign and Invisalign Teen? Invisalign clear aligners use a special acrylic material to move your teeth with gentle pressure, similar to how braces move your teeth. Invisalign can repair overbites, underbites, crossbites, gap teeth, crowded teeth, and other dental issues. However, Invisalign may not be best for the most severe cases. Those patients usually do better with braces or clear braces.
How do you know whether your child is a good candidate? If you’re in the Canby, OR, area, you can schedule an appointment with Ohana Orthodontics. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to new patients, where we perform thorough examinations to determine the best course of treatment. We’ll be able to tell you from the beginning whether Invisalign Teen is right for your child.
What Is Invisalign Teen?
So what’s the difference between Invisalign and Invisalign Teen? Invisalign Teen is just like Invisalign. It’s a system that uses clear acrylic trays to move your child’s teeth into their proper positions. Your child wears each set of trays (one upper, one lower) for 1-2 weeks, then changes them out for the next set in line. Each set moves the teeth a certain way and a certain amount. This continues until your child has the smile they want, with a repaired bite and straight teeth.
Invisalign Teen has a feature different from the adult version — a series of blue dots on the back of the trays. These blue dots fade as the trays are worn. The purpose is to ensure your child wears Invisalign for the required 22 hours daily. We know kids aren’t always 100% responsible as they should be. That’s what makes them kids, right? Invisalign Teen allows you to monitor your child’s progress and give them a little nudge when they need to be more diligent.
Will My Child Have Food Restrictions With Invisalign?
You’ve probably heard about the food restrictions with braces. So have your kids, which is often why they prefer clear aligners over braces. That’s because those food restrictions don’t exist with Invisalign Teen. The trays are removable, so the patient takes them out to eat meals or snacks and puts them back in once finished. That means they don’t have to worry about certain foods breaking brackets or wires. Your child can still enjoy popcorn, bagels, nachos, or whatever else they like to eat!
Your child must take certain steps to ensure they get the most out of their Invisalign Teen. They must wear their Invisalign Teen for at least 22 hours daily. That provides two hours for eating meals, drinking dark liquids that could stain their Invisalign, and brushing and flossing their teeth. That means your kiddo can’t do a lot of snacking. That also means they must put the Invisalign back in as soon as they’re done eating.
Before replacing the Invisalign, they need to brush their teeth and rinse the Invisalign trays. That keeps food particles, plaque, and bacteria off the teeth and helps prevent tooth decay.
How Do We Clean Invisalign Teen?
While it’s important to rinse Invisalign Teen after every meal, it’s not the only cleaning needed to clear aligners daily. Keeping clear aligners clean is vital to prevent tooth decay, which can delay treatment. You must clean clear aligners thoroughly at least once daily (preferably twice daily) to remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque from the trays.
Soak your clear aligners in a solution of warm water and special clear aligner cleaner tablets, which can be found at most major retailers and pharmacies. Some people use denture tablets. Those can only be used if they do not contain abrasive material. If you don’t use the non-abrasive tablets, the particles in the tablets can cause microabrasions on the clear trays and make them look cloudy. Make sure you avoid the “scrubbing formula” tablets. You can also use hydrogen peroxide or baking soda diluted in lukewarm water if you don’t have a clear aligner or denture tablets. Make sure you rinse the clear aligners thoroughly after cleaning them.
Speaking of abrasives, most toothpaste has abrasive material to “scrub” your teeth. That means toothpaste can also make your trays cloudy, so don’t clean your trays with toothpaste. If you need to remove stubborn particles, use warm water and a cotton swab. If necessary, use a soft-bristled toothbrush with warm water only.
Should My Child Use Invisalign Teen?
Now that you know what Invisalign Teen is, you’re probably wondering whether it’s right for your teenager. We’ve got many success stories with Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. With a little due diligence, your child can be one of those success stories.
The key is the length of time wearing the trays. They must be worn for at least 22 hours daily for full effectiveness. If your child does that, they’ll likely succeed with Invisalign Teen. Also, your child must take care of the clear aligners. That means making sure they don’t get lost or damaged. Don’t wrap them in a napkin at a restaurant and accidentally toss them out. Don’t let them near children or pets who can damage them. Don’t wash them in very hot water than can warp the material. Proper care means those clear aligners will do their jobs and do them well, and we’ll be happy to guide your child on the proper care.
Invisalign Teen in Canby, OR
If you’re ready to find out whether Invisalign Teen is right for your child, schedule an appointment with Ohana Orthodontics. We’ll be happy to evaluate your child’s case and get them started on the way to the smile of their dreams!
