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 it’s 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 Fry 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 is a big reason why Invisalign has become so popular among teens nowadays. Less appointments means 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 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 Invisalgin, 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, lack in motivation will always result in an issue arising or a set back 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 Fry Orthodontics, we believe in our teens and have seen great results with their motivation when it comes to Invisalign.
Invisalign for Teens at Fry Orthodontics
Still not convinced Invisalign is the right choice for your teen? At Fry Orthodontics, we are a Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider and have treated more patients with Invisalign than anyone else in the entire midwest! We also guarantees that if at any point during treatment you decide Invisalign is not working well with your lifestyle, we will happily switch you over to braces at no extra charge! To learn more about Invisalign at our practice, visit: www.fryorthodontics.com.
Schedule a FREE consultation today to see if Invisalign is the right option for your teen! Give us a call at: 913-469-9191 OR schedule an online video exam by clicking here.