What Is Invisalign Teen?

Having braces as a teen can be a big deal, so choosing what kind of orthodontic treatment to use is very important. If your child needs braces but doesn’t want the traditional brackets and wires, Invisalign makes a line of products specifically for teens.

Invisalign Teen is designed for teenage patients who don’t want to worry about braces upkeep or what not to eat. It’s a great, easy-to-use option, but your kids will have to be responsible enough to wear them all day, every day.

Invisalign Teen Accommodates Younger Patients

One of the biggest parent concerns about teenagers getting Invisalign is they will lose or break their aligner trays. The manufacturers of Invisalign are a step ahead of you regarding that concern – they offer six replacement trays throughout every teen’s treatment for no additional cost.

If your child loses, breaks, or accidentally throws their Invisalign tray away, you’ll be able to get a replacement in no time.

How Is Invisalign Teen Different?

Many might worry that teenagers are not responsible enough to be in charge of their own orthodontic treatment. Invisalign offers the freedom to take the trays out at any time. This is completely different than braces that are glued to your teeth and have to stay there until the orthodontist takes them off.

Invisalign Teen makes it easier to monitor if your child is wearing their aligners. Each tray comes with a compliance indicator, which is a small blue dot on the back of the tray. It slowly fades as your teen wears the trays. If the dot it still really blue after a few days, that means your child has not been keeping up with their treatment and has not been wearing their trays enough.

Invisalign does not want you to worry about investing money in treatment that will not be used by a forgetful teenager. Be sure to remind them to wear their aligners and check on their progress with the little blue dot.

Is Invisalign Right For Your Child?

The perks of Invisalign are great: you can eat whatever you want, you don’t have to mess with hard metallic brackets and wires, and virtually no one can tell that you’re wearing them!

If your child plays a sport, Invisalign Teen might be a great option for them because they won’t have to worry about braces if they are bumped in the mouth. This is also a convenient option if your child plays an instrument, as Invisalign is much more comfortable when pressed up against a mouthpiece rather than braces.

Many teens won’t want to be wearing traditional braces at prom, graduation, or in school pictures, and Invisalign can give them an alternate, invisible option.

As a parent, it’s up to you to decide if your teenager can handle the freedom Invisalign gives them with their treatment. Every child is different, so you should talk to your teen to see what they would prefer and if they would take this type of orthodontic treatment seriously.

You should also talk with your orthodontist first to see if your child is a good candidate for Invisalign based on their oral history and what plans they would have for treatment.