In today’s image-conscious world, teenagers feel more pressure than ever
to maintain their appearance. So, when they’re told they need
orthodontic work, it’s likely they will immediately associate those
words with an image of themselves wearing a mouth full of metal. At Simply
Orthodontics, Dr. Alkhoury understands this can be a
devastating reality for some teens, which is why he is proud to offer
Invisalign for teens in Fitchburg. This innovative system of clear aligner
technology can shift their teeth or bite in the right direction without
disrupting their daily appearance. If you think your teen could benefit from
Invisalign Teen, give us a call today to
schedule a consultation.
How Does Invisalign Teen Work?
Invisalign Teen uses clear aligners that are much like traditional
Invisalign trays; however, one of the major differences is with Invisalign
Teen, they have a small, blue indicator toward the back of the aligner. As
your teenager wears them, the blue dot will begin to fade. This will not
only help our orthodontists to determine how well they are complying with
treatment, but it will also help indicate when your teen should switch to
the next aligner set in the series.
In order for the process to work and for there to be no delays in treatment,
Invisalign Teen should be worn 20-22 hours a day. The only time the aligners
should be removed is when your teen is eating, drinking, or cleaning their
trays.
Before you know it, you and your teen will notice a significant difference
in the look of their smile, achieving results much quicker than with
traditional metal braces.
Benefits of Invisalign Teen
Oftentimes, teens are drawn to clear aligners because they are more discreet than traditional braces. However, that’s just one of the many benefits that come with this popular orthodontic treatment! During the consultation, we can discuss the perks in more depth, but feel free to read on if you want to learn a little more on the topic until then.
Improved Comfort
Not only are traditional brackets and wires a bit of an eyesore, but they also aren’t very comfortable. Fortunately, clear aligners don’t have any metal components, have a low profile, and are custom-made to fit the contours of your teen’s teeth perfectly. As a result, they won’t have to deal with soft tissue irritation and mouth sores on their journey to a straighter smile!
Tip: If there is a rough edge on one of your child’s aligners, don’t hesitate to bring it to our office so we can gently file it down. In the meantime, you can place some dental wax over the sharp edge to protect their gums, tongue, and the insides of their cheeks.
Discreet Appearance
As we mentioned above, teens are often interested in Invisalign because the aligners are see-through, making them incredibly discreet. So, your child won’t have to worry about unwanted attention being drawn to their smile during their orthodontic treatment! Instead, they can smile with complete confidence from start to finish.
No Dietary Restrictions
Another noteworthy benefit of Invisalign Teen: there aren’t dietary restrictions. That means that you don’t need to completely change your grocery list, and your child can enjoy all of their favorite foods! All we ask is that they eat healthy, well-balanced meals most of the time. That way, they are less likely to develop cavities and other common oral health problems.
Easy Maintenance
Like many other teens, your child may view brushing and flossing as a chore. The good news is that they won’t need to adopt a cumbersome routine or use special products just because they have braces. In fact, since Invisalign aligners are removable, their oral hygiene regimen will remain pretty much the same! The only change will be taking care of their trays, but that also only takes a few minutes.
Removable Aligners
Even though Invisalign aligners are discreet, there may come a time when your teen wants to remove them to feel their absolute best, like while taking prom photos. Luckily, the trays are removable! Just make sure that they are placed in their designated case anytime they aren’t being worn. This will significantly reduce the chances of them getting damaged or misplaced.
Who Can Invisalign Teen Help?
Does your teen have all of their adult teeth? Are they responsible enough to wear the aligners as instructed? If you answered “yes,” then there’s a good chance that they are a candidate for Invisalign Teen! So, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with Dr. Alkhoury. You can also read on to learn more on the topic of who clear aligners can help.
Crowded Teeth
If your teen has difficulty keeping their smile healthy because their teeth are sitting too close together, you should bring them to our office so we can explore the different orthodontic treatments that are available, like Invisalign Teen! If we determine that they are a good candidate, then we will create a custom series of aligners to gently and gradually guide their teeth into their ideal places. The final result will be a smile that’s healthier and more aesthetically pleasing.
Gaps Between Teeth
Is there a large gap between your teen’s two front teeth? If so, they’ll be happy to hear that metal braces likely aren’t the only solution. With Invisalign clear aligners, we can eliminate the unnecessary space between teeth (oftentimes in just 12-18 months, too!). Not only will this improve their self-esteem, but it will also prevent decay and disease from developing as a result of trapped food or bacteria.
Overbite
Oftentimes, people assume that Invisalign can only correct crowding and spacing issues. The truth is that it can address several other orthodontic problems, including overbites. So, if your teen’s top teeth jut out considerably, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation at our office to discuss clear aligners! If we determine that’s the best option, then the process of creating a straighter smile and healthier bite won’t involve any metal.
Underbite
Is your child struggling with low self-esteem, chronic jaw pain, and difficulty enunciating clearly because their bottom teeth sit in front of their upper ones? If so, we recommend bringing them to our office so we can explore their treatment options. While there are some circumstances that warrant traditional braces (i.e., jaw problems), there’s a chance that we can create a healthier bite with a custom series of clear aligners.
Crossbite
What if only a few of your teen’s upper teeth sit behind their lower ones? If that’s the case, then they likely have a crossbite. Like the other orthodontic problems listed here, this can cause several issues, including premature wear. Also like the other orthodontic problems listed here, we can often achieve the desired results with Invisalign Teen. So, they shouldn’t assume that their only choice is traditional braces!
Open Bite
As you may have guessed from the name, an open bite is when there is a space between the upper and lower teeth. This orthodontic problem often stems from childhood habits, like thumb-sucking. Fortunately, we can often treat it with clear, comfortable, and convenient aligners!
Differences Between Traditional Invisalign and Invisalign Teen
Although the aligners look very much the same, there are a few differences
between traditional Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, such as:
Invisalign Teen has the ability to move your child’s tooth roots as
well as correct alignment problems
The aligners used for Invisalign Teen have small indicators on them. This
helps your teen remember when to swap out their trays. Traditional
Invisalign relies on the individual being responsible for remembering when
to make the switch.
If your teen still has growing teeth, Invisalign Teen can be a great
solution.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign Teen
Now that you’ve learned a little more about Invisalign Teen, including how it works, you might want to get a price estimate. Although we can’t provide you with a cost online, we can share some helpful information on the topic. So, read on to learn more, starting with the factors that play a role.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign Teen
Clear aligner treatment is different for every patient. So, while it may cost a certain amount for one person, it is highly unlikely that it will be the same for your teen. During their consultation, we will consider important factors like:
Whether any pre-Invisalign work is needed, like a tooth extraction
The complexity of their misalignment
How many aligners are needed to achieve the desired results
The type of retainer that is to be worn once Invisalign treatment is complete
Once we have all of this information, we can discuss the cost of your teenager’s treatment as well as ways to budget for their new and improved smile.
Invisalign Teen Vs. Mail-Order Aligners: Which Costs More?
Have you seen ads for mail-order clear aligners and wondered if they are an option for your teen? If so, it’s important to look into how they cut costs. Usually, it’s because these companies bypass the initial exam, rely on DIY impressions, and don’t hire licensed dental professionals. This, in turn, leads to issues like worsened misalignment and loose teeth, both of which can negatively impact your child’s confidence, bite strength, and speaking patterns. All that to say, this is definitely an instance of “cheaper isn’t better.”
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign Teen?
Some dental insurance providers do cover a portion of the cost of orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign. So, don’t hesitate to read through the fine print on your plan to familiarize yourself with the benefits that are available. If you need any help, you can also provide our Fitchburg dental team with your membership information! We are in-network with several different insurance providers, and we’d be happy to help you navigate your coverage and reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
Options for Making Invisalign Teen Affordable
Did you know that roughly 50% of patients don’t have dental insurance? If that’s the case for you as well, then you’ll be happy to hear that Invisalign Teen financing is available with CareCredit! All you need to do is determine your monthly budget. Then, you can look through their payment plans and select the one that’s ideal for you.
Need a Second Opinion?
Did your teen’s general dentist suggest braces? Before moving forward
with treatment, it is important that a certified orthodontists examines your
child’s oral structure. Why? The reason is that an orthodontist has
additional knowledge and training on aspects of orthodontic treatment that a
general dentist does not, so even if their regular dentist believes
Invisalign to be a great option to fix a large gap between your
teenager’s two front teeth, an orthodontist may suggest traditional
braces to address such a complex issue.
