Clear, Discreet Aligners Help Maintain Their Confidence
Though many people will begin orthodontic treatment in their teen years, traditional braces are still known to make teenagers feel self-conscious. This can affect their social lives, their interpersonal relationships, and make them reluctant to participate in discussions and presentations that would put their smile on display.
Invisalign clear aligners are transparent, and nearly invisible when worn. Once your teen gets over the initial adjustment period and grows comfortable speaking while wearing them, nobody will be able to tell they’re getting orthodontic treatment. Being able to get a straight smile in the most subtle of ways will encourage them to continue to socialize, smile, speak with confidence, and not miss out on anything! Nothing is more crucial than your child feeling happy, confident, and making important strides in their oral health journey. With Invisalign’s key transparency feature, they may even enjoy wearing them and fast-tracking the journey to their dream smile.
They’re Easy to Remove for Eating, Drinking, and Cleaning
While your teen will have the responsibility of wearing their aligners for a minimum of 22 hours per day, they also get a little more flexibility than wearing braces would allow. They can remove their clear aligners for a quick morning coffee, for meals, and to properly clean their teeth. This leaves room for socializing with friends in restaurant or cafe settings, being able to comfortably eat lunch at school, and ensures their teeth are being brushed and flossed thoroughly and correctly without having to work around any brackets.
Unlike braces, Invisalign aligners need to be removed before eating and therefore don’t require your child to make any dietary changes. This means no snacks or foods are off-limits, as long as they’re eaten in moderation, and your teen cleans both their teeth and their aligners before putting them back in after eating. Being able to remove the clear aligners and put them back seamlessly helps your teen feel more in control of the process, encourages responsibility, and doesn’t limit them in terms of what they can and can’t do as much as traditional braces do.
Parents and Orthodontist Can Track If They’re Being Worn
Many parents worry that their child won’t wear their clear aligners for the amount of time needed to complete their treatment on schedule. With Invisalign being such a significant investment, these are valid concerns.
Your teen’s Invisalign clear aligners will be created with blue compliance indicators. These will tell both you and your child’s orthodontist if they’re being worn enough, or if your teen needs to spend more time wearing them so their treatment progresses properly. If the indicators turn bright blue, your teen’s orthodontist will discuss the importance of wearing them for a minimum of 22 hours per day, ensure they understand, and help get them back on the right track. These compliance indicators keep everyone accountable and help you have peace of mind.
Sports and Extracurriculars Can Continue
Sports and other after school activities can be crucial for your teen’s development and keeps them active and social. While braces can be limiting when it comes to what physical activity your teen can and can’t do, Invisalign is extremely fitted and presents minimal risk of falling out, becoming damaged or causing injuries, even in contact sports. Very high impact sports such as boxing, wrestling, or hockey may need to be temporarily placed on the back burner, but your teen will be in the clear for most things.
As long as your teen is sensible and careful, their clear aligners shouldn’t interfere with living an active lifestyle. If you’re ever unsure about a sport or an activity being safe for their Invisalign, please don’t hesitate to contact your orthodontist for confirmation.
Clear Aligners Are Comfortable And Result-Oriented
While there is an adjustment period at the beginning of Invisalign treatment, once your teen has gotten used to their clear aligners, they’ll discover they’re more comfortable than wearing traditional metal braces. There are no wires, brackets, elastics, or tightening appointments involved in the Invisalign process. This means fewer dentist appointments, less discomfort, and a happier teenager!
