Many parents considering treatment to correct their teen’s misaligned teeth have heard about the new technology putting a smile on young people’s faces: Invisalign Teen. Candidates for this treatment find it fits perfectly with their busy lifestyles. Invisalign Teen allows teens to eat what they want, makes it easier to brush and floss, and is virtually invisible, which helps alleviate the self-consciousness that metal braces can often elicit.
Invisalign Teen is a well-established brand growing in popularity. It offers a set of clear aligners to help straighten teeth and correct certain dental conditions. It treats widely-spaced teeth, crowded teeth, overbite, underbite, and simple bite irregularities. Many individuals who have worn braces but notice a shift in teeth after removal also turn to Invisalign to restore their smiles.
Invisalign Teen is available at Smile Solutions in Pittsburg and the surrounding area. Our staff can help you make the right decision for your child’s dental needs. Call us to schedule a consultation today.
Invisalign® Teen Vs. Invisalign® for Adults
Invisalign Teen aligners have a blue indicator that keeps track of how many hours the patient wore the trays that day, as it can often be difficult to remember. The indicator changes color from blue to clear or white the more often the trays are worn. Traditional Invisalign trays for adults do not come with the blue indicator, as they assume adults will be responsible enough to wear their aligners for the bulk of the day. The indicator helps busy teens keep track of their wear duration so they can be sure to wear them for the required 22 hours a day.
Invisalign Teen also comes with a higher number of replacement aligners. Due to the nature of a teenager’s active lifestyles, they provide more replacement aligners with Invisalign Teen, in the event a set becomes damaged or lost. These replacement trays come included in the treatment plan at no additional cost.
- Invisalign Teen aligners have a blue indicator that keeps track of how many hours the patient wore the trays that day, as it can often be difficult to remember.
Refitting Invisalign® Aligners
Invisalign for teens works through a series of aligners that apply gradual pressure to teeth to shift them into place over time. Patients will receive a precise treatment plan that involves moving their teeth in successive increments. Most teens will not need aligner refitting throughout the treatment process since each set of trays in the series will shift a certain part of their teeth.
In some cases, we will notice that a patient’s teeth are not moving into position exactly as planned. This can happen in adults and teens with Invisalign due to broken aligners, dental treatment, or complex and slow tooth movements. When this happens, we may need to refit the aligners so the patient can receive a new set of aligners to get their teeth back on track.
- Most teens will not need aligner refitting throughout the treatment process since each set of trays in the series will shift a certain part of their teeth.
Designed Just For Teens
Align Technologies designed Invisalign Teen with teenagers in mind. Invisalign Teen remains a preferred treatment for many teenagers as the invisible trays are removed for eating, drinking, and engaging in activities. For treatment to be as effective as possible, teens will need to wear their aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day. That gives them plenty of time to take them out for eating, cleaning, and engaging in extracurricular activities such as band practice or sports. Designed to be discreet, Invisalign trays can be worn at other times without disrupting a teen’s life or making them feel self-conscious about the appearance of their smile.
One of the greatest advantages of Invisalign Teen remains its nearly-invisible trays. Less than one millimeter in thickness, these clear aligners offer teens a far less invasive alternative to traditional metal braces. The clear aligners are computer-manufactured and completely customized to fit the patient’s mouth. It slides comfortably over the surfaces of teeth and can be removed to eat, drink, brush, floss, and engage in activities such as sports and playing musical instruments.
- Less than one millimeter in thickness, these clear aligners offer teens a far less invasive alternative to traditional metal braces.
Materials Made For Teens
Invisalign Teen makes it easier than ever for teenagers to achieve their desired smile and correct dental issues. Each aligner comes with a blue compliance indicator that helps teens ensure they wear the aligners for the prescribed duration each day. The indicator changes from blue to clear to indicate the trays have been worn for a sufficient amount of time each day — 20-22 hours a day.
The aligners are made of SmartTrack material to keep them smooth and comfortable while in the patient’s mouth. SmartForce Attachments, or small tooth-colored shapes, are often added, allowing the aligners to apply the right amount of force in the right direction. The mandibular advancement feature for patients with complex overbites (common in teens) comes with precision wings that gradually move the lower jaw. These additions and features can be requested or may be recommended by an orthodontist during consultation.
- Invisalign Teen makes it easier than ever for teenagers to achieve their desired smile and correct dental issues.
An Optimal Choice For Teens
There are many reasons why Invisalign treatment may be the optimal orthodontic treatment option for a teen. These aligners are safe, effective, quick, and nearly invisible. They are a great option for teens who want straighter teeth but do not want to worry about wearing uncomfortable and visible braces. Invisalign is effective in treating most of the same orthodontic issues as traditional braces. Our team customizes aligners to each patient’s mouth to minimize discomfort.
These aligners are also removable, making them ideal for teens who do not want dietary restrictions. Their removability makes playing sports, eating, and cleaning teeth much easier. For teens who want a comfortable and discreet way to receive orthodontic treatment, Invisalign treatment may be the best option for their lifestyle.
- For teens who want a comfortable and discreet way to receive orthodontic treatment, Invisalign treatment may be the best option for their lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quality Dental Services Can Transform Your Smile
By visiting us as soon as possible, our team can help get you the professional treatment you need. Instead of waiting around and allowing the symptoms to get worse, we can provide you with treatment options.
Invisalign® Terminology
With Invisalign treatment, the patient will receive a series of aligner trays and swap out each one for the next one in the series every two weeks in order to gradually straighten the teeth.
The blue compliance indicator is a small blue dot on the aligners that will fade from blue to clear in order to indicate if the patient is wearing the aligner for the proper amount of time and where the patient is in the Invisalign process.
ClinCheck software allows professionals to map out the straightening process the patient’s teeth will go through with Invisalign® in great detail.
The gum line is the line in the mouth where the teeth and gums meet. If a patient struggles with gum recession, then the gum tissue around the teeth may begin to wear away.
Incisal ridges are the portion of the crown of the tooth that makes up the incisal portion and can be a direct cause of overbite if they are extended too far.
An iTero Element scanner allows professionals to create a 3D image of the patient’s teeth in minutes and predict what it will take to move the teeth into proper alignment.
Malocclusion is the condition in which the upper and lower teeth do not meet properly when the bite is closed. Conditions of malocclusion can include overbite, underbite, crossbite and open bite; all of which are treatable with Invisalign®.
An overbite is a type of malocclusion that occurs when the upper teeth jut out over the lower teeth, covering them and causing other issues.
Polyurethane Resin is a USP Class VI medical-grade, high molecular weight compound that makes up the Invisalign aligners.
SmartForce attachments are small attachments that professionals place on the patient’s teeth before placing aligners to help move the teeth.
Smart Track material is in Invisalign® aligners to increase comfort, improve control of movement, increase the speed of treatment, and apply a gentle force to the teeth over time.
Smile-Scan analyzes the way a patient smiles by measuring the position of the mouth and eyes before giving a score.
Vivera retainers are a type of retainer that consists of clear plastic material and helps to maintain orthodontic corrections after a treatment.
Learn More About Invisalign® Teen Today
If you would like to learn more about Invisalign Teen for your child, call Smile Solutions in Pittsburg to learn more.