If you're a teenager with crooked or misaligned teeth, you know how much of a downer it can be. And we get it — it can really have an impact on your self-confidence, especially at a time in your life when you really just want to be yourself!
We've seen Invisalign treatment create brighter smiles for literally millions of teens, so we know how exciting the prospect of getting Invisalign clear aligners can be. So how can you, Mom and Dad explore Invisalign as a teeth straightening option?
Good question! Let's take a look at the aspects that we find most teens and parents are wondering about when it comes to considering Invisalign for teens.
1. Why crooked teeth can be a problem
Crooked teeth can lead to things like:
Gum disease and tooth decay, which can be painful and costly to treat
Difficulty eating certain foods, which could impact your health long-term
Tooth grinding or jaw pain — all of which are uncomfortable and, in the case of teeth grinding, can cause permanent damage2
As an example, when your teeth are crooked or crowded, it makes it harder to keep them clean, because your brushing and flossing can't reach all of the nooks and crannies of your teeth. When this happens, plaque builds up3, and then that plaque might turn to tartar4 (which is harder), which can then in turn lead to gum disease.
When you have straighter teeth though, it's way easier for you to brush and floss your teeth effectively, which helps reduce your risk of plaque buildup5 and gingivitis6 (the beginning of gum disease).
2. Benefits of Invisalign clear aligners for teens
The first step is to make sure you are aware of all the benefits that Invisalign treatment can offer. This can include things like:
More comfortable than metal braces
Invisalign clear braces are almost invisible — so it is more discreet
Better oral health as the clear aligners are easily removable for brushing and flossing
Faster than metal braces for some patients7
No need for painful, invasive procedures with wires or brackets
Flexible treatment timelines that fit around your schedule
No wires means no wire breakages and fewer emergency visits to the doctor
Parents might prefer to think of Invisalign treatment as an investment in the future. For example, if you start Invisalign treatment now, a potential increase in self-confidence, self-assurance and more expressiveness might give a boost much sooner in life.
Speak to other teens and parents that have used, or are using, Invisalign clear aligners. With over 15 millions8 of smiles and counting, it is the clear alternative to metal braces.
3. How does Invisalign treatment work
Parents might still only be familiar with the old-school style of metal braces which may have all sorts of negative connotations attached to them — even they might have some nightmares about the time they used to wear braces!
Invisalign treatment includes a series of clear plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth. It all starts with a simple digital scan, Invisalign’s advanced software along with data from millions of patients help plan out your every single little tooth movement needed to achieve your dream smile. Think of them as clear braces and teeth aligners. You will even be able to see the simulated outcome of your new smile on a screen before you even begin treatment! It is able to cater for your permanent teeth to erupt if your baby teeth drops.
Each clear aligner is worn for about a week or two, and as you change to the next set of clear aligners, your teeth slowly shift into a straighter position. This means that it's possible to straighten teeth without having metal brackets or wires poking around in your mouth — which can be uncomfortable and even painful at times.
At the end of the day, Invisalign treatment is completely different to old-school metal braces, and hopefully, your parents will be interested to see how far teeth-straightening technology has come since they were teens. For more details, check out the How Invisalign System Works video or read more on our website here!
4. Invisalign treatment won’t affect your lifestyle much
This is a really important point to make, because parents might be worried that Invisalign treatment will mean making lots of lifestyle changes that could impact schooling or social life. But the great thing about Invisalign clear aligners is that they're practically invisible and are removable, so it doesn’t affect how you look or lifestyle!
You can easily take your aligners out to eat, drink, and brush and floss your teeth, so you don't have to worry about any of the hassles that come with metal braces.
Another big benefit of Invisalign clear aligners is that they won't affect being active or playing sports at all. With metal braces, there's always the risk of them getting damaged or causing you pain if you play contact sports, but because Invisalign clear aligners are so flexible and no bulging metal brackets, you don't have to worry about that at all. Keep your Invisalign clear aligners in all day and enjoy your life as usual!
5. The cost of Invisalign treatment and payment options
A common topic that comes up: Invisalign treatment may not be the cheapest treatment out there. When talking about costs, it’s all about what value is ultimately created compared to other teeth straightening options for teens out there. This is something that each parent and teen will determine for themselves.
Your Invisalign doctor may offer a payment plan, which can make the cost of Invisalign treatment more manageable.
Bottom line: don't be afraid to ask questions about the cost of Invisalign treatment and explore all the possible options before making a decision.
You will almost certainly have other questions about how Invisalign treatment works, and rightly so — teeth straightening is a medical procedure after all.
While you may have picked up lots of info in your research, it’s always important to talk to a dentist or orthodontist who can help out with the facts. You can do this by setting up a consultation with one of our Invisalign trained doctors.
From there, parents can ask questions directly, and get all of the information needed from a professional. Again, Invisalign treatment is a great solution for nearly all types of teeth misalignment, but it is still a medical procedure, so both you and your parents deserve to know the facts in their entirety.
If you want to learn more about Invisalign treatment, you can visit our Find a Doctor page to consult an Invisalign doctor. If you or your parents have any other questions specific to the Invisalign process, please feel free to contact us, we'd love to help you!
There is much more to getting your teeth straightened than a beautiful smile. Read now
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website are for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the advice of your health care provider with any questions you may have regarding any dental or medical-related condition and never disregard or delay seeking such advice because of something you have read on this website.
