Being a responsible parent means ensuring your kid or teen’s overall well-being, including dental health. A set of healthy, straight teeth can help them smile more confidently. It’s also crucial in preventing serious oral health issues.
Sadly, not all kids or teens will have naturally straight teeth, and some may require orthodontic treatment to correct misaligned teeth. While there’s nothing wrong with visiting the dentist for traditional metal braces, one solution that’s gaining popularity is Invisalign. This treatment is best known for being comfortable and convenient.
If you want your child to smile better, this article will explain Invisalign and why they should get this treatment from their dentist. We’ll also tackle how they can ensure this orthodontic solution’s effectiveness.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment involving your dentist using various clear aligners to shift the position of a child’s teeth. They now offer this solution to children as young as seven years old, but most kids will start treatment at around 13 years old.
What Can You Expect During Treatment?
Your child’s Invisalign treatment plan may involve 20 to 30 (or more) aligner trays, depending on their smile. Their dentist will replace each aligner with the next one every two weeks. Also, the treatment’s duration depends on your child’s smile, with an average time of 12 to 18 months. An Invisalign specialist will accurately evaluate your child’s smile and estimate the treatment duration.
During Invisalign treatment, your child should wear them for a minimum of 20 hours daily, and they should only remove them when eating, drinking anything but water, brushing, or flossing. They should also aim for 22 wearing hours daily and visit their dentist every six weeks to check their progress.
5 Advantages of Getting Invisalign for Children and Teenagers
After explaining how Invisalign works and what to expect, this section will discuss how letting your kid or teen get this treatment from their dentist can benefit them.
1. It’s Easier to Brush and Floss without Braces
Brushing and flossing around wires and brackets can be challenging. On the other hand, your kid doesn’t need to worry when they get Invisalign. They can remove their aligners to carry out their usual dental care routine, like brushing and flossing.
2. Kids Can Still Eat All Their Favorite Foods
If your child wears braces, they cannot chew gum, eat chewy or crunchy foods, or consume sticky foods. However, since they can remove Invisalign clear aligners before eating, your child can continue to eat their regular diet without worrying about damaging the braces. It also eliminates the risk of broken wires or brackets.
3. Your Child May Feel More Confident without Metal Braces
The traditional metal braces can easily make a child or teenager uncomfortable because of their noticeable appearance. However, the braces are almost invisible with Invisalign, letting the child or teen straighten their teeth without attracting unwanted attention.
4. Clear Aligners Can Protect against Bruxism
Invisalign clear aligners can protect teeth from bruxism and remedy this lousy habit related to improper bite alignment.
5. Treatment Can Take Less Time than with Traditional Braces
Parents and children will like to hear that Invisalign treatment works faster than traditional braces, often taking half the time to complete. However, that depends on the child wearing their aligners for the recommended time daily.
How Can Kids Ensure the Invisalign’s Effectiveness?
Kids can forget to wear their clear aligners, which is a disadvantage of removing them. It happens when they neglect to put them back in after meals or because they don’t like how they feel. However, if they wear the aligners 20 to 22 hours daily, they’ll see great results.
Key Takeaway
No kid or teen deserves to feel embarrassed about their smile because of traditional braces or crooked teeth, which can negatively affect their self-esteem and oral health. You can help them smile better by bringing them to the dentist and asking about Invisalign.
If your kid or teen needs a professional Invisalign dentist near Manassas, Virginia, bring them to Liberia Dental Care! Our clinic offers unique dental treatments for people of all ages to help everyone smile better. Request an appointment now!
