When parents ask us if their kids can get Invisalign we always say age is not the only thing we look at. Invisalign can be a great treatment for many young patients but there are a few things to consider before deciding if a child is a good candidate for this type of orthodontic treatment.
The most important thing to consider is if the child has lost most of their baby teeth and their permanent teeth have come in. Invisalign moves teeth into better positions but this only works if the teeth are stable and won’t be replaced naturally. We usually recommend waiting until most of the permanent teeth are in place which is usually between the ages of 12-14 but this can vary from child to child. Early Treatment helps guide jaw development and correct alignment concerns before they worsen. Starting Early Treatment can often reduce the need for more complex procedures later on.
Parents who want their kids to get clear aligner treatment often ask us about Invisalign Teen at Marrecau Orthodontics. This type of Invisalign is for younger patients and has additional features that help with the unique problems that come up when treating teens. Invisalign Teen aligners have little blue dots that fade away. This allows parents and orthodontists to keep an eye on if the child is wearing them for the right amount of time each day.
One of the hardest things about treating kids with Invisalign is getting them to follow the rules. You have to wear the aligners for 20-22 hours a day for them to work. You have to take them off to eat, drink anything other than water and brush your teeth. Not all kids are responsible and self-disciplined enough to do this. We find that kids who are naturally responsible and know how important it is to follow directions tend to do much better with Invisalign treatment.
Invisalign may not be the best choice for kids who lose things, don’t follow routines or can be tempted to take their aligners off at school. In these situations regular braces might be a better choice because they can’t be lost or taken off and they work all the time no matter how well the child cooperates.
Invisalign can be very helpful for kids who are good candidates. Because the aligners are almost invisible many young patients feel better about themselves after treatment. This can be especially helpful for kids who are self conscious about how they look or who do things like school photos, performances or sports where they want to feel good about their smile.
Invisalign can also be helpful for kids who play sports. We recommend taking out your aligners and putting on a mouthguard when you play contact sports, but this is much easier than dealing with regular braces when you play contact sports.
Invisibility is great for kids who are self conscious about how they look or who do things like school photos, performances or sports where they want to feel good about their smile.
Invisalign is also helpful for kids who play sports. We recommend taking out your aligners and putting on a mouthguard when you play contact sports, but this is much easier than dealing with regular braces when you play sports.
But when we meet with kids we always look at each one separately. Traditional braces are better for some orthodontic problems especially when a lot of tooth movement or bite adjustment is needed. Some kids may also do better with different orthodontic appliances before they consider getting braces or aligners.
We also consider how well the child takes care of their teeth when we recommend Invisalign. Kids who already brush and floss their teeth well are more likely to do well with this treatment since aligners need to be cleaned and teeth need to be brushed after meals before putting the aligners back on. Adult Treatment offers modern orthodontic solutions tailored to the needs of adult patients. Many individuals choose Adult Treatment to improve alignment and confidence at any age.
Parents are a big part of how well Invisalign works for kids. We ask that parents help monitor their child’s compliance and care for their aligners especially in the first few weeks of treatment when kids are still getting used to the routine.