Invisalign Braces for Teens, Fairfield

Dental alignment, also known as orthodontic treatment, has numerous benefits for individuals of all ages. Orthodontic treatment is part of your overall health, and you should not put it on the back burner.

The teenage years are an excellent moment to start alignment treatment since teeth are fully developed but are still malleable to move into different positions. But getting to this point takes previous examinations from your orthodontist.

What Are The Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment?

First of all, because properly aligned teeth are easier to clean, orthodontic treatment will improve your oral health. Straighter teeth reduce the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health problems. Dental alignment also helps in proper occlusion and distribution of the chewing forces over all the teeth, reducing the wear and tear on teeth and jawbones.

Many people consider starting treatment with traditional braces or Invisalign aligners to achieve a perfect smile, making them feel more confident and comfortable in social situations. Well, enhanced appearance is a benefit of orthodontic treatment, despite not being its principal goal.

Better speech is another improvement patients can achieve with orthodontic treatment. Crooked teeth can affect your speech, making it difficult to pronounce certain words and sounds. Proper dental alignment can correct your speech, making it easier for others to understand you. Speech problems are common for patients with open bites.

Now, some side benefits of having a straight smile are reduced risk of trauma since teeth that protrude or are misaligned are more prone to injury during physical activities, especially in sports or accidents.

Correcting dental alignment can help to reduce the risk of traumatic injuries to teeth, gums, and jawbones.

And last but not least, you will have improved oral health. Misaligned teeth can cause issues such as headaches, jaw pain, and even sleep apnea. By correcting dental alignment, you may experience an improvement in overall health and quality of life.

How Is Invisalign for Teens Any Different?

Invisalign for teens is similar to traditional Invisalign treatment but with some differences to accommodate the unique needs and preferences of teenagers.

Compliance Indicators:

Invisalign aligners for teens have compliance indicators, which are small but blue dots on the aligners that fade over time as the aligners are worn. This allows parents and orthodontists to track whether the teenager is wearing the aligners as directed.

Eruption Tabs:

Invisalign aligners for teens may also include eruption tabs, which are small bumps on the aligners that help guide the eruption of new teeth.

Replacement Aligners:

Invisalign for teens comes with extra replacement aligners, which are useful in case an aligner is lost or damaged. This is important because teenagers may be more likely to misplace or damage their aligners than adults.

Compliance With Treatment:

Invisalign is a type of orthodontic treatment that requires more commitment and discipline from the patients. Teenagers have to wear the aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours per day for optimal results. Teenagers need to follow their orthodontist’s instructions to ensure the success of the treatment.

This can be tricky, but motivation is key.

Communication With Parents:

The orthodontist may also communicate more frequently with parents to ensure that the teenager is following the treatment plan in the right way and to address any concerns that may arise during treatment.

What Are the Advantages of Invisalign?

The rapid success of Invisalign among orthodontic patients is understandable, given the numerous advantages over traditional braces. Of course, conventional metal braces are still the most effective method for teeth alignment.

Invisalign Trays Are Virtually Invisible

Invisalign clear aligners are made of clear plastic, making them virtually invisible when worn. This is a significant advantage over traditional braces, which are much more noticeable, and some patients do not like that.

Removable

People love that Invisalign aligners are completely transparent, but the absolute game-changer for clear aligners patients is the option to remove your orthodontic appliance to eat, brush, and floss.

This also makes it so much easier to maintain good oral hygiene during treatment.

No Dietary Restrictions With Invisalign

With Invisalign, patients have more freedom to eat. There are no food restrictions because you can take off your aligners during meals.

Patients can eat whatever they like without worrying about damaging their braces or getting food stuck in their brackets and wires.

Reliability in Fast Treatment

Invisalign has become a reliable brand due to its effectiveness and only working with certified orthodontists with in-office checkups.

Many patients also experience faster treatment times in comparison to other traditional methods. This is because Invisalign uses advanced technology to create a precise treatment plan that gradually moves teeth into the correct position.

If you are considering orthodontic treatment, it’s worth talking to your orthodontist about whether Invisalign is a good treatment option for you.

How Does Invisalign Work?

The mechanics behind Invisalign are the same as orthodontists use with conventional braces. Even the treatment steps are quite similar, including previous examinations, smile design, biweekly checkups, and post-treatment retainers.

You need to find an Invisalign provider and schedule a consultation. An orthodontist will evaluate your teeth and determine whether Invisalign is a good option for you. You should get X-rays during this stage.

If Invisalign is a good fit for your needs, the orthodontist will create a custom treatment plan according to your specific goals. Remember, Invisalign is not the best alternative in cases of severe misalignment problems.

Before wearing any aligning appliances, your doctor will 3D-scan your upper and lower teeth. They will take digital impressions of your teeth. This is the digital model they will use to create a series of custom aligners that will gradually shape your teeth into the right position.

Your dental home will send the 3d model to an Invisalign lab to create a series of custom aligners for you. Each aligner will move your teeth a small amount, usually about 0.25mm, and you will have to wear it for about two weeks before replacing them with the next pair of trays.

The progress monitoring will require regular checkups, as we said. Your orthodontist will check your progress and make sure that your teeth are moving accordingly to the plan. Depending on your treatment plan, you may receive a new set of aligners every two weeks or less.

Once you have completed the entire series of aligners, your teeth should be in the correct position. You will then transition to wearing a dental retainer that will prevent teeth relapse.

Choosing Your Invisalign Provider – Invisalign, Fairfield

Dr. Steve Cagliostro is a certified orthodontist with great experience in Invisalign for teens.

Set an appointment to get to meet the team and know more about your treatment alternatives.