Invisalign® For Teens – 10 FAQs That Most Parents Have

Invisible Braces

Being a teen is harder than ever. But it’s harder parenting a teen. You need to make sure your teen is performing well at school, extra-curricular activities, and deal with their mood swings.

So if your teen needs orthodontic treatment, you should read up on the pros and cons of Invisalign® braces before your teen starts treatment for them.

Here are a few FAQs that parents have when their teens get Invisalign® braces:

  1. Why Choose Invisalign® for Teens?

    Invisalign® braces for teens have many benefits:

    • They are virtually invisible, so they are not very noticeable in social situations.
    • The Invisalign® braces can be taken out to eat, drink, brush your teeth, and floss.
    • The follow-up visits are fewer as compared to conventional braces.
    • They are more comfortable because of the removable plastic aligners.
  2. How Old Does Your Child Have to be to Get Invisalign®?

    Invisalign® braces are suitable for teens whose permanent teeth have come in. This usually occurs at the age of 12, plus or minus a few years.

  3. How Does Invisalign® Teen work?

    Invisalign® Teen braces work just like regular Invisalign® braces. These braces have a series of custom-made aligners which has a blue dot that fades out when the aligners are ready to be changed. The average time to wear each set of aligners is two weeks.

  4. What Happens if My Teen Loses an Aligner?

    If your teen loses an aligner before the two-week replacement period, you can ask your orthodontist if there is a reduced rate for replacement aligners. Or if there’s a chance that your orthodontist might let you skip to the next set of aligners a little ahead of schedule.

  5. How Many Hours Does My Teen Need to Wear Aligners?

    The success rate of Invisalign® braces is based on how long you wear them. Invisalign® guides teeth slowly into the position created by the aligner. The movement produced by the shape of aligners is what corrects the misalignment of teeth.

    Though the initial few days might cause discomfort, you must remind your teen to wear it for at least 22 hours a day. Your teen can take off the aligners during meals and for the morning and night oral hygiene ritual.

  6. Will the Treatment be Painful for My Teen?

    Invisalign® braces are generally milder and gentler than braces. If your teen is experiencing more pain and discomfort than usual then you can keep some over-the-counter painkillers ready.

  7. What is the Treatment Period for Invisalign® for My Teen?

    The treatment time for Invisalign® is similar to the treatment time for traditional braces. But since every case is unique, the orthodontist will determine the actual period for which your teen needs to wear Invisalign® braces. The time period averages from 6 to 15 months.

  8. Can My Teen Play Sports While Wearing Invisalign®?

    Teenagers can continue to play sports of their choice when they are wearing Invisalign® braces. It can be dangerous to play contact sports if you have traditional metal braces on.

    But since Invisalign® braces are removable, you can either replace them with your regular mouthguard when playing sports or wear your mouthguard over it.

    You can keep your Invisalign® on for sports like football, tennis, basketball, cycling, and gymnastics. But remember to replace your Invisalign® braces with a mouthguard for full-contact sports like boxing, wrestling, martial arts, and rugby.

  9. Can My Teen Eat or Drink Anything While Wearing Invisalign®?

    As a general rule, your teen needs to take off the Invisalign® braces while eating. However, ensure that the braces are on for at least 22 hours a day.

    So, if your teen is someone who likes snacking 24*7, then you can let them eat yogurt, soup or ice cream with aligners on. But be careful to choose food that doesn’t require chewing.

    Also, ensure that your teen has a strict oral hygiene routine even after eating yogurt, soup, or ice cream.

    Read more about what you can eat and what you can drink with Invisalign.

  10. Can My Teen Continue Playing His Musical Instrument While Wearing Invisalign®?

    Yes, your teen can continue to be a part of the school band and play a woodwind or brass instrument. Just remove the braces while playing the musical instrument.

Apart from these, there are certain do’s and don’ts of Invisalign that the orthodontist recommends while the orthodontic treatment is on. Generally, Invisalign® braces are a comfortable alternative to traditional metal braces if your teen is conscious about metal wires in the mouth.

Think your teen is ready for Invisalign® braces? Book an appointment today at Brite Orthodontics.

Dr. Satish Pai, M.D.S

Dr. Satish Pai is an orthodontist and Ivy League trained dentist who has served as a faculty at Columbia University. He believes a perfect smile not only makes a person look great but feel great. As the founder of Putnam Orthodontics and a Partner at Brite Orthodontics, he is dedicated to providing the best orthodontic treatments to his patients. He also writes to educate people about everything orthodontics and the importance of correctly aligned teeth along with good oral health. In his free time, you can find him golfing, doing yoga or surfing, and spending time with his family.

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