Alternatives To Braces For Teens

If your teen enjoys their orthodontic treatment, they will be more committed to following through with it. Orthodontics is not a procedure that people can complete in one visit. It is up to your teen to remember to wear their aligners, keep up with appointments, and care for their teeth.

Teens wear their Invisalign aligner trays for at least 21 hours per day. They can remove their aligners to eat, brush their teeth, play sports, or take a picture.

One of the biggest benefits of Invisalign Teen as an alternative to braces for teens is that the clear aligner trays are incredibly easy to use. Your teen puts the aligner trays in and takes them out as necessary. As long as they brush their teeth after each meal, they can eat their favorite foods and not have to adjust their diet. All your teen needs to do is take their aligner trays out and put them in their case while eating. The same is true when it comes to brushing their teeth. This is a far cry from braces, where the brushing and flossing routine requires additional tools and can take up to twenty minutes at a time.

Since teeth are easier to keep clean when wearing Invisalign, there is less of a chance of developing stains or even cavities. Consider this: with braces, food can become stuck all along the brackets and underneath the wires. These areas can be hotbeds for bacteria and plaque that can eat away at the teeth and lead to decay. To prevent this, you need to use special brushes daily so that the brackets can stay clean. Proper dental hygiene can be difficult for adults, let alone children or teens. With Invisalign Teen, your child will not have to take extra steps to keep their teeth clean. Because the clear aligner trays are removable, there is nothing additional for food to get stuck on or for plaque to grow on. Since Invisalign comes out to brush and floss, the process of oral hygiene stays the same throughout treatment. Invisalign Teen is a win-win for oral hygiene and the aesthetics of your child’s smile.

While today’s braces are smaller than they used to be, many patients would still prefer something more discreet. When your teen hears they will need braces, they may feel insecure about looking different, become worried about standing out, and dislike the idea of going to school with a metal mouth.

At Gables Exceptional Dentistry, we get it. No matter how efficient braces are, most teens want an alternative because they are insecure or self-conscious about their looks. We encourage parents not to force the issue since braces are a long-term commitment, and if they are not happy on day one, it is unlikely they will be happy at any time during their treatment. Instead, we recommend using Invisalign Teen.

Our Coral Gables, FL dental office provides a nearly invisible solution for teens that other people will barely notice. Invisalign Teen allows them to smile every day without hiding their teeth. As your teen’s smile improves during treatment, they will notice the changes and stay motivated to keep going.

We can let you know how long the treatment will last when you visit our dental office. Generally speaking, most teens need to wear their aligner trays for around eighteen months. The overall treatment time with Invisalign Teen can vary depending on how often your child removes the aligners.

While your teen may only need to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, if they remove them for too long, they risk extending the treatment time. Wearing Invisalign Teen takes commitment and care but can be a more positive experience than conventional braces.

At Gables Exceptional Dentistry, we hear many of our patients mention how comfortable they are during the treatment process. Anytime teeth move, there is bound to be some level of soreness. Whether your teen wears metal braces or Invisalign clear aligners, there will be soreness following an adjustment or switching to a new set of aligner trays. A small amount of soreness during an adjustment is perfectly natural. The difference in comfort is more noticeable when you consider how everything feels from day to day.

Conventional metal braces have brackets and wires that can rub up against the cheeks and inside of the lips, causing irritation. This discomfort is entirely avoidable with Invisalign Teen. Because the aligners are clear plastic, they are smooth and are unlikely to irritate your teen’s mouth during treatment.