A popular way to straighten teeth without traditional braces is Invisalign®. Clear aligners are available for both adults and teenagers who are interested in improving the alignment of their teeth and improving the appearance of their smiles. The aligners are not visible in the mouth and do not have metal components that can irritate sensitive tissues in the mouth, causing sore spots and scar tissue. These qualities make this treatment especially good for teenagers.
Invisalign treatment uses aligners made of clear plastic and molded to the teeth. Your teenage child wears two aligners at any given time during the treatment, one on the top jaw and one on the bottom. Your child wears them for most of the day, every day, for a period of approximately two weeks. As your teenager wears the aligners, they gradually guide the teeth into a straighter position.
Every two weeks or so, your teenage child has an evaluation by a dentist who assesses the change in the position of the teeth. If your child's teeth have not made as much progress as expected, they continue to wear the same aligners for another couple of weeks. Otherwise, your teenager receives a new set of aligners. The new set is slightly different from the previous set but not enough that you can tell the difference by looking at it. Your adolescent child wears the new aligners for several weeks until their next appointment and reevaluation.
The length of the treatment depends on the degree of your teenage child's initial malalignment. On average, a full course of Invisalign takes about six months to complete.
Here are answers to some of the common questions that parents ask about their children's treatment.
The impressions are taken digitally using a special scanner and computer-generated imagery.
The aligners should fit tightly on your child's teeth but not to the point that they are painful. In the first few days after receiving new aligners, your child may experience some pain and tenderness from the pressure the aligners are putting on the teeth. This is similar to the discomfort that would occur with traditional braces and improves after a few days.
To be a good candidate, your teenage child must be mature and responsible enough to wear the aligners at least 20 hours per day and perform the required oral hygiene. Aligners must be taken out when eating, and patients must brush their teeth before putting them back in. You must be able to rely on your child not to lose the aligners upon removing them for meals, hygiene, and sports, if applicable.
Invisalign is for mild to moderate cases of malalignment. If your child's condition is more severe, the clear aligners may not exert enough pressure on them to move them. If this is the case, your child may require traditional braces.
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There is a teeth-straightening alternative to braces, some teenagers may prefer. A responsible teenager with malalignment of the teeth that ranges from mild to moderate may benefit from Invisalign. However, it is important for the teen to take proper care of the aligners, avoid losing them, and wear them the recommended amount of time.
Request an appointment or call Alexandria Old Town Dental at 703-763-1078 for an appointment in our Alexandria office.
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