What is Invisalign Teen?

When teenagers have crooked or misaligned teeth, they not only have to deal with an unsightly and embarrassing smile, but they also have the task of wearing braces for a year or two, which is also an unpleasant thought. Invisalign Teen® offers a brilliant solution to both of these problems, so your teen can have good oral health without the hassle of braces.

Invisalign Teen® involves the use of clear aligners that are custom made for your teen’s mouth. They fit over the teeth and gradually push them into the right position. They are virtually invisible and have no wires or brackets. As the teeth move, the aligner is changed, so over time, according to the dental issues involved, the teeth shift to the correct position.

This treatment is as effective as traditional braces if they are worn according to our recommendations. They may treat mild to severe cases of underbite, overbite, gaps between teeth and crowded teeth.

There are several practical advantages to Invisalign Teen® over traditional braces. The aligners are removable, so there are no food restrictions. With traditional braces, the patient has restrictions on the food he or she can eat because certain foods either will break the wires or are stuck between the teeth and brackets. For example, people with traditional braces should not eat whole apples, most nuts, popcorn, raw carrots, chewing gum, soft caramels and much more. With Invisalign Teen®, you just take out the aligner, eat what you want, wash your mouth and put the aligner back in.

Your teen’s teeth cleaning routine need not change with Invisalign Teen®. He or she can brush and floss as usual and maintain good oral health while the teeth are being straightened. The aligner can also be brushed with toothpaste.

Most teenagers are eligible for Invisalign Teen®. The main criterion is that the teenager has permanent dentition. We can evaluate your teenager’s specific dental issues to determine if he or she is a good candidate for Invisalign Teen®.

The treatment time for Invisalign Teen® is about the same as for traditional braces. However, since each person has unique problems, the actual time will depend on the severity of the teenager’s condition.

The aligners are the most effective when they are worn about 20 to 22 hours each day. Research shows that most teenagers wear them for a bit less than 21 hours. This allows them to remove the aligner for a short time for a special event. Eating and cleaning take very little time each day, giving the patient a margin of an hour or two.

Teens will be happy to know that Invisalign Teen® requires fewer visits to our office. There is no chance of broken wires or brackets, so each follow-up appointment is scheduled for every four to six weeks.

For good oral health throughout life, straight and properly aligned teeth are essential. More and more adults are getting braces to fix problems that were not addressed when they were teenagers. Today, teenagers have the brilliant solution of Invisalign Teen® to get an attractive smile and good oral health.

To get all the facts about Invisalign Teen®, visit Runnels Orthodontics, with offices in Panama City Beach and Destin. Runnels Orthodontics serves the following areas: Panama City, Panama City Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside, Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, Freeport, Niceville and Fort Walton Beach. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!