At Rockland Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics, we believe everyone has the right to be themselves and to take on the world with courage and confidence! When it comes to our teen and tween patients, we know that creating a great smile can go a long way.
Invisalign® clear aligners are a great orthodontic option for some teens, especially if they feel self-conscious about traditional braces or want the convenience of being able to eat, drink and brush like normal. Invisalign treatment offers teens consistent results — as long as they put in consistent effort by wearing their clear aligners 20 to 22 hours per day.
How Does Invisalign Treatment For Teens Work?
Invisalign treatment begins with an initial appointment where our orthodontic team will take a digital scan of your teen’s mouth using an iTero Element scanner. The scanner takes 6,000 images per second to create a complete 3D picture of their teeth. Using special computer software, our team will map out the path to your best smile.
Once your teen’s custom-designed aligners arrive, they will wear them daily — for 20 to 22 hours a day — as they gently shift your teen’s teeth in the right direction. Every one or two weeks, your teen will change to a new set of aligners, as directed by our orthodontist. The total length of treatment varies from person to person, but your teen will probably start to see subtle changes within the first several weeks.
To help teens stay on track with their Invisalign treatment, aligners can include a small blue dot that will change colors to indicate if they are being worn as needed. Our orthodontist may also recommend applying SmartForce attachments — small, tooth-colored bumps that act like against which the Invisalign aligners push. For teens and tweens with overbites, precision wings can help to gradually move the lower jaw into place.
Invisalign Aligners vs. Braces? Which One Is Right For My Teen?
Pursuing orthodontic treatment is a big decision, one that can have an impact on your teen’s smile for many years to come. Here are a few ways that Invisalign treatment is different from traditional braces:
- Invisalign clear aligners are removable. While traditional braces are affixed to the surface of the teeth, Invisalign aligners are worn like retainers and can be easily popped out to eat, drink or brush.
- There are no forbidden foods — bring on the popcorn! Since you can remove your aligners to eat, no food is “off limits” during treatment — feel free to chew popcorn, apples, carrots or gum. Just make sure to brush and floss your teeth and replace the aligners after you eat.
- Aligners are less irritating. With Invisalign aligners, there are no brackets to rub against the inside of the mouth — and fewer emergency trips to our orthodontist for broken brackets or poking wires.
- There are no brackets to brush around. No tricky nooks and crannies to brush or wires to floss around here! Remove your aligners to brush and floss your teeth — and be sure to give your aligners a gentle brush each day while you are at it.
Make An Appointment
Call 845-634-8900 today to make an appointment at Rockland Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics in New City, New York, with Dr. Emily Schadt to discuss Invisalign treatment for teens! Our providers are happy to discuss all the options and customize a treatment plan for your unique goals.
Invisalign and the Invisalign logo, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc., and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.