Orthodontics for Teens – Can Teens Have an Invisalign Treatment?

Invisalign Glendale, CA

Invisalign is an incredible way to straighten crooked teeth. First introduced in 1997, an increasing number of people choose this treatment over traditional braces. Dentists consider good Invisalign candidates are people with mild to moderately misaligned teeth. They also cannot have any serious spacing issues. As for age, these clear aligners work great for both teens and adults.

Why not younger children?

While still young, the mouth is developing. That means the jawbone continues to evolve as it grows. Therefore, if a person’s mouth is in the development stage, a dentist would not recommend Invisalign. Because teenagers’ mouths are fully formed, they make good candidates. For confirmation, parents would need to schedule an appointment with a dentist.

Other benefits for teens

As everyone knows, the teenage years are awkward. While going through puberty, bodies, as well as behaviors, change dramatically. These cause teens to feel more self-conscious. The same thing happens when dealing with crooked teeth. Teenagers feel embarrassed. In more severe cases, some individuals isolate themselves, which affects any attempts at making friends.

Although the Invisalign treatment cannot help with puberty-related issues, it can give teens beautiful smiles. With straight teeth, teenagers feel more confident. That makes them approachable that, in turn, helps with building friendships. Especially when reaching the dating age, teens want to feel proud of how they look. This includes the teeth.

How does Invisalign work?

With braces, patients typically wear them for three years, sometimes longer. In comparison, Invisalign can achieve positive results in as little as 10 months. Even for moderately crooked teeth, most people only wear them for up to 24 months. That means these clear aligners actually help people reach their goal in less time than if wearing braces.

Made from an acrylic or plastic material, Invisalign aligners simply slip over a patient’s permanent teeth. Then roughly every two weeks, the dentist switches out the current tray. This accommodates the new position of the teeth while continuing to straighten them. Also, people can take them off as needed for brushing and flossing, something impossible with braces.

No more embarrassing smiles

For a lot of teens, it does not take much to embarrass them. Teenagers worry about wearing trendy clothes, having the coolest shoes and styling their hair just right. Otherwise, some of them could become the target of unwanted attention. Parents can eliminate some of this embarrassment by having their teeth straightened. Because these are clear aligners, most people do not even know when someone is wearing them.

How long does a teen wear the aligners per day?

The dentist will make that determination on a patient by patient basis. However, most dental professionals recommend that teenagers wear these aligners between 20 and 22 hours a day. That means sleeping in them as well as wearing them throughout most of the day. However, as a comfortable appliance, there is no disruption to sleep. This length of time is what helps straighten teeth, usually quicker than when wearing traditional braces.

Give your teenager a gorgeous smile

If you have a teenage son or daughter who feels self-conscious about having crooked teeth, talk to a dentist. There is a good chance that you can get them Invisalign aligners. In no time, changes will occur. With that, you will notice that your teen feels and acts more confident.

Request an appointment here: https://clarisseatakhaniandds.com or call Clarisse Atakhanian DDS Inc. at (818) 483-9071 for an appointment in our Glendale office.

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