Invisalign Teen – Columbus, OH

Convenient Orthodontics for Responsible Teens

Invisalign isn’t just great for adults; it can work for teen patients as well. The clear aligners are nearly invisible when worn, fit comfortably over the teeth, and can be removed at a patient’s convenience. They are ideal for image-conscious youngsters who want to look their best! At Columbus Orthodontic Center, we’re able to treat about half of our teen patients with this method.

INVISALIGN TEEN VS. INVISALIGN FOR ADULTS

The Invisalign Teen we offer is similar to traditional Invisalign in most ways. However, there are a few key differences. Invisalign Teen includes six replacement aligners in case a younger patient accidentally loses or damages one. Another significant difference is that Invisalign Teen aligners have a small blue compliance dot that helps young patients stay motivated to keep their treatment on track.

BENEFITS OF INVISALIGN TEEN

Invisalign Teen offers many advantages. Some of the most outstanding ones include:

MADE FOR TEENS

Each and every teen we see is unique, and their treatment should always reflect that. This is why Invisalign Teen is custom-made for every patient to fit their particular smile. Also, thanks to its subtle appearance, teens will be able to more easily maintain their self-confidence so that they can have a better overall treatment experience.

PROVEN EFFECTIVE

With Dr. Mason, Invisalign Teen can be used to treat a wide variety of orthodontic issues, ranging from the simple to the complex. Examples of problems that it may be able to address include:

• Malocclusion (such as underbite, overbite, and crossbite)
• Overcrowding
• Gaps between the teeth
• Rotated teeth

BETTER HYGIENE

Invisalign Teen makes it much easier for a patient to maintain their normal oral hygiene routine because they’ll be able to simply remove their aligner before brushing. This is in contrast to normal braces, which require patients to use specialized tools in order to clean around their brackets and wires.

LESS PAINFUL THAN BRACES

The brackets and wires of traditional braces can often cause irritation to the gums and lips, and they can even lead to emergencies if they are damaged during an accident (such as when playing sports). With Invisalign Teen, a patient will not have to deal with either this discomfort or liability.

Of course, Invisalign is not completely pain-free. It is normal for teens to experience some soreness when they switch to a new aligner. However, sipping on cool water, switching to a new aligner at night, and taking mild over the counter pain relievers can all help to mitigate any pain.

LESS TIME OUT OF SCHOOL

Invisalign Teen requires fewer progress checks than traditional braces, meaning a patient will need to take less time out of their busy schedule over the course of their treatment. Plus, if everything is going well with a patient’s treatment, the appointments usually last no longer than a few minutes.

INVISALIGN TEEN VS. METAL BRACES

Both metal braces and Invisalign Teen are effective orthodontic treatments. While Invisalign is usually better for cases of mild to moderate dental misalignment, braces may be more suitable for severe cases. Some other differences between the two treatments include:

• Invisalign Teen makes it much easier for a patient to brush and floss teeth normally. Of course, it is also necessary for patients to adopt a daily routine of keeping their aligners clean.
• Invisalign Teen fits much more comfortably than traditional braces.
• Patients with Invisalign Teen never have to worry about broken brackets or wires. However, it is important to remember that Invisalign Teen aligners are not invincible. Your teen will need to take precautions to reduce the risk that their aligners will become stained, warped, or broken.
• Braces come with dietary restrictions, but patients with Invisalign Teen have the freedom to eat virtually anything. This means that young patients can continue to enjoy foods that are a staple of teen social gatherings, including popcorn, pizza crust, and other treats that are not allowed with normal braces.
•  Invisalign Teen requires fewer periodic visits to the office.
•  Invisalign Teen won’t affect a patient’s appearance during treatment, making it perfect for social occasions, such as school dances.

WHAT ARE INVISALIGN TEEN’S TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS?

• Invisalign Teen aligners must be worn at least 20 – 22 hours a day in order for them to be effective.
• A patient must remove their aligner before eating or drinking anything except plain water.
• After working their way through all of their aligners, a patient must wear their retainer. At first, they should wear it as much as possible. Later, they may be able to graduate to wearing it only at night.

Because Invisalign Teen requires strict adherence to a treatment protocol, your youngster should thoroughly understand what is expected of them and be committed to keeping their progress on track.

Invisalign Teen Case

The patient did not want any metal braces, had crowded upper and lower arches, increased overbite, and overjet.

Treatment: Patient was using Invisalign Teen system.

If you have a teenager at home who could possibly benefit from Invisalign Teen, please contact our office for a consultation.

Invisalign Teen FAQs

As the parent, it’s up to you to make the right choices that will help your teen enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile that they can carry into adulthood. Before you commit to Invisalign or any other orthodontic treatment, it’s vital to ask any questions that you have on your mind. Dr. Mason and his team are here to explain everything to you and your teen throughout the entire process. Below are some particularly common questions to help give you a solid starting point.

How Old Should a Child Be Before Using Invisalign?

Orthodontic treatment normally starts between the ages of 7 and 14. If you specifically want Invisalign, however, it’s generally recommended to wait until your child is around the age of 12. At this point, all of your child’s permanent teeth will have erupted, which is crucial for Invisalign treatment. Furthermore, older patients are more likely to have the self-control required to leave the aligners alone throughout the day, which is important if you don’t want there to be delays in the treatment.

How Can I Make Sure My Teen is Wearing Their Invisalign?

Since Invisalign can be removed, it’s up to the patient to comply with the treatment plan. If the alignment trays are removed too often, your teen could end up needing to wear Invisalign for longer than originally intended. Fortunately, the aligners offer a simple way to make sure that your teen is following instructions. There is a small blue dot at the end of each tray. As long as the trays are kept in the mouth each day for the recommended amount of time, the dot will slowly but surely start to wear away. This gives both you and Dr. Mason an easy reference point to see if your teen is using Invisalign correctly.

How Long Will My Teen Need to Wear Invisalign?

As long as your teen is wearing their aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours every day, you can generally expect the treatment to follow the proposed timeline.. Of course, as with any orthodontic treatment, the severity of the orthodontic issue in question needs to be considered. Teeth that are only slightly crooked will be easier to correct than a moderate bite alignment problem, for example. Bear in mind that forgetting to wear Invisalign for even one day can substantially add to treatment time.

What Happens if an Aligner is Lost?

If your child loses an Invisalign aligner, have them put on the previous one in the series as soon as you can. Then call our office immediately. We understand that sometimes accidents happen, and we’re more than happy to help you get a replacement as soon as possible. As long as you act quickly and decisively, you should be able to help your teen limit the impact of the lost aligner so that we can keep the treatment on track to as much as we can.