When it’s time for your child to get braces, they may express an interest in Invisalign Teen. Not every orthodontic patient qualifies for this alignment method but the adolescents who do are grateful for the opportunity to get straight teeth without drawing attention to themselves. Here is what parents need to know about Lawrenceville Invisalign Teen.
What’s the difference between Invisalign Teen and Invisalign?
Invisalign and Invisalign Teen work the same way, carefully and consistently guiding smiles into alignment, moving teeth a few at a time, no matter what age the patient is. The aligners need to be worn 20 to 22 hours a day. Invisalign Teen does have two elements that are different though.
Because a teen’s mouth is growing and developing and some teeth may still be erupting, Invisalign Teen has eruption tabs. This characteristic helps the aligners guide newly erupting teeth into the correct position so they don’t fall into misalignment during the Invisalign Teen treatment.
There are also wear indicators, small blue dots at the back of each aligner. that fade as the aligners are worn. This feature allows your Lawrenceville Invisalign provider to see that your teen is wearing their aligners as often as directed (or not wearing them appropriately, as the case may be).
How often will my teen need to see the orthodontist?
As with any orthodontic treatment, regular visits to the orthodontist are necessary to check in on the progress of treatment. For wearers of Invisalign Teen, these visits are also when patients pick up their next several sets of aligners so they can keep their treatment on track and switch out the aligners about every two weeks, or as instructed by their Lawrenceville Invisalign provider.
What are the food restrictions with Invisalign Teen?
Popcorn. Pizza crust. Gum. Chewy candy. Some of teens’ favorite foods are off-limits when they’re wearing braces made of brackets and wires. But there are no limitations or food restrictions with Invisalign. The only rule is that the invisible aligners must be removed before every meal and snack, and teeth must be carefully cleaned before the aligners are snapped back in place. There is no sipping on coffee, soda, or any drink besides water when Invisalign is in place. If your teen has that kind of self-control, they’ll be thrilled to truly be without food restrictions during their orthodontic treatment.
Is my teen a good candidate for Invisalign Teen?
You know your teen best, so you are the only one who can judge whether they are responsible enough to follow the rules of this orthodontic treatment. However, it is often the case that teens are some of the most obedient Invisalign patients. They are grateful to have avoided the dreaded metal mouth and happily wear their Invisalign aligners as instructed.
Find out if your teen is a good candidate for Invisalign Teen. Contact Dr. Roberts and de Marsche at Lawrenceville Orthodontics in Lawrenceville, NJ, to schedule your appointment.