
Invisalign is a kind of orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear aligners as opposed to using traditional metal and wire braces.
Teen years can be tough for some children on account of raging hormones, chilling with friends, completing assignments but a lot of children tend to suffer from low confidence levels at this age. Don’t you feel that your children’s dental problems should not be a reason for their lack of confidence during their formative teenage years?
Giving your children straighter teeth and a better smile will instill a better sense of confidence in your children that they will carry for the rest of their lives and the best part is that they won’t even have to suffer from the embarrassment of having traditional metal braces. Sounds too good to be true right? Well, it is very true and very possible with Invisalign braces!
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a kind of orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear aligners that are molded according to your child’s smile as opposed to using traditional metal and wire braces.
How does Invisalign Treatment Work?
The Invisalign system uses a chain of aligners to slowly straighten your teeth. Usually a patient has to wear a chain of aligners for 2 weeks before switching them out for a new set. But this will require regular visits to your orthodontist which may vary from orthodontist to orthodontist. The regular time is usually once every 6 weeks for your dentist to monitor the progress and ensure that the results are positive.
The whole Invisalign process usually ranges from anywhere between 12-18 months but this can vary depending on a patient’s oral condition and the severity of their orthodontic problems.
Cost of Invisalign Treatment
The cost of Invisalign is more or less the same as the cost of traditional braces. The costs of orthodontic treatment tends to vary according to the difficulty level of the treatment that is required. Make sure to check your dental insurance plan as well as orthodontic treatment with Invisalign is covered by most dental insurance policies. A lot of orthodontists offer flexible and affordable monthly payment plans as well.
Here are 9 reasons why Invisalign treatment is the best choice for your teenager:
- Invisible Option for Teeth Straightening
Invisalign treatment is an aesthetic and almost invisible technique of straightening your teeth without the visibility and restrictions that come with traditional metal braces. Invisalign treatment uses a clear series of clear and removable aligners that are molded to suit your teeth and mouth.
- As Effective as Traditional Braces
Invisalign braces can be just as effective as traditional braces as long as your child follows your orthodontist’s advice and wears his/her aligners for 20 to 22 hours everyday. Invisalign braces can also treat the gaps between the teeth, overbites, underbites and overcrowding as well.
- Easy to Clean and Maintain
Traditional wire braces can be a bit awkward to clean as they can’t be removed from your mouth and cleaned which can lead to poor oral health due to lack of proper cleaning. Taking care of your Invisalign braces on the other hand makes it a lot easier to clean your teeth without having to deal with the cleaning hassles of traditional braces.
- Reduces Your Child’s Anxiety About His Appearance during the Treatment
You as parents ought to understand the extent to which teenagers tend to feel self-conscious about most anything at their age, particularly having crooked teeth.
Having Invisalign braces gets rid of a potential source of anxiety as the clear plastic aligners are hardly noticeable. Invisalign allows your child to enjoy the process of straightening his teeth without letting the world know that they are in the middle of straightening their teeth.
- No Worries About Losing Your Aligners
This happens to everyone so there is no need to get stressed if your child loses his/her Invisalign aligners as each treatment offers 6 free replacement aligners. Make sure that your child informs you upon losing a retainer so you can inform your orthodontist and your child won’t have to skip any of his treatments.
- No Food Restrictions
Your child is restricted in his diet when eating with traditional metal braces as he can’t eat any foods that can damage his braces. Hard to chew foods can damage the wires of your child’s braces as well as limiting your child’s diet which can affect his growth. Using Invisalign braces is best as your child can remove his plastic trays when eating without any fear of damaging the trays.
- Better Oral Hygiene
Patients that have traditional braces are a lot more likely to suffer from tooth decay and demineralization of their teeth due to the inability to clean their teeth. The inability to remove braces also prevents proper x-rays from being taken which gives your orthodontist an inaccurate picture of the health of your teeth. Invisalign braces on the other hand can be removed and x-rays can be taken which results in a proper hygiene analysis and proper oral maintenance.
- Great for Athletes and Performers
Invisalign braces have very few to no restrictions as they can be removed. This is great for athlete’s, sportsmen and performers as they can continue their daily routine without fear of their braces being damaged. Your child won’t be limited by the traditional bulky braces in if he has Invisalign braces as he can simply remove them if he wants to.
- Fewer Orthodontist Visits
Invisalign braces require a lot fewer orthodontic visits than traditional braces as there are no wires to be fixed or adjusted. Follow up appointments are normally scheduled at every 4 to 6 weeks after your first appointment which is great news for you and your teenager.
This treatment will result in your child having much straighter teeth without having to wear traditional metal braces which carry a certain social stigma amongst self-conscious teenagers so Invisalign is a great option for them.
Dr. Satish Pai is an orthodontist and an Ivy League trained dentist who has and has served as a faculty at Columbia University. He believes that a perfect smile not only makes a person look great but feel great. As the founder of Putnam Orthodontics and a Partner at Rome Orthodontics, he is dedicated to providing the best orthodontic treatments to his patients. He also writes to educate people about everything orthodontics and the importance of correctly aligned teeth along with good oral health. In his free time, you can find him golfing, doing yoga or surfing, and spending time with his family.
Leave a Reply