Seeing children and teens wearing braces is nothing new, but what if you couldn’t immediately tell that they even have them? That’s the perk of Invisalign braces for children and teens. Invisalign also makes it easy to maintain your child’s oral hygiene. Here’s what you need to know about this dental innovation.
Seeing children and teens wearing braces is nothing new, but what if you couldn’t immediately tell that they even have them? That’s the perk of Invisalign braces for children and teens. Invisalign also makes it easy to maintain your child’s oral hygiene. Here’s what you need to know about this dental innovation.
What Do Braces Do?
Braces are a dentistry tool of choice when it comes to straightening teeth, fixing bites and spacing problems in the smile. They have been around for a few centuries and have certainly come a long way since their inception, moving from shaped pieces of iron, to wires, and now to clear, “Invisible” trays.
With all braces, the roots of the teeth are manipulated into moving through slight pressure from the brace appliance—a pressure that becomes less noticeable over time as teeth shift into their new position.
What's The Process With Invisalign Braces?
During an initial consultation at our Guelph Dentist office, Dr. Wat will speak to you about how Invisalign braces work and what you can expect during the process. In this initial meeting, the Dentist will examine your teeth, your jaw and joints with an oral examination and X-Rays to determine what the Invisalign process will look like for you.
Invisalign Braces start from a mold of the teeth, taken at this appointment. From here, the mold is sent to the Invisalign Labs where sets of clear, plastic Invisalign trays are created for the patient’s smile.
Invisalign Labs uses 3-D computer technology called Align Technology to create a system of custom aligners as per the Dentist’s instructions. Each set of trays is designed for a wearing span of 2-3 weeks, in which the teeth will shift to their new position. Once a patient’s teeth have moved according to the tray’s design, the next set of trays in the system should be worn. Depending on the length of treatment, a number of trays will be given to you with a timeline of when to wear them.
As you continue using your Invisalign Braces, Dr. Wat will bring you in for check-up appointments to examine how your teeth are progressing and if there are any areas of concern when it comes to your oral health and hygiene.
The Benefits of Invisalign Braces for Children and Teens
If you are considering braces for your child, Invisalign Braces are an ideal choice, especially when it comes to their cost, appearance, comfort and maintenance. For most parents, cost of dentistry is always an important factor in making dental decisions.
Cost-wise, Invisalign Braces are around the same amount as traditional wire braces, making both options of the same value. But beyond the cost, Invisalign braces have an advantage in terms of comfort and appearance, especially for children and teens. Because the Invisalign trays are made of plastic, they are much softer against the mouth tissue and inside of the lips. One of the problems with traditional metal braces is that they can cut the mouth and pose a risk of injury, especially when playing sports. Invisalign Trays have a smooth texture around the teeth and don’t pose the same problem as wires do. This also means that Invisalign wearers won’t wake up with metal marks imprinted on the inside of their cheeks, nor do they need to worry about metal pieces that stick out and irritate the tissue.
There is also a level of discreetness when it comes to wearing Invisalign Braces. Unlike wire braces, they are practically invisible against the teeth. This makes it easier for children and teens who may feel self-conscious about their smile when wearing braces.
Taking Care of Invisalign Braces
The maintenance involved with Invisalign Braces is a fraction of that of traditional braces.
Children and teens don’t need to worry about food getting trapped between wires in their mouth with Invisalign—instead, they just need to pop out the trays when eating and give their teeth a quick rinse with water before popping the Invisalign tray back in. With less chance of food getting trapped in between teeth, children with Invisalign braces are less prone to periodontal disease (gum disease) and don’t need to worry about breaking metal brackets should food become lodged deeply between metal wires.
Maintaining oral health is key with any type of braces, and shouldn’t be neglected when wearing Invisalign braces. To clean Invisalign Braces, patients can use the Official Invisalign Cleaning system, which removes plaque from the trays in under 15 minutes. While this is an official option, it can be costly.
Instead, Stonegate Dental usually recommends that patients clean their Invisalign trays with a soft toothbrush and a tiny bit of toothpaste. A soft toothbrush won’t scratch the surface of the trays and the toothpaste will keep the trays from building plaque. Just remember to rinse the trays out well, and continue brushing and flossing your teeth twice per day.
For more cleaning tips, be sure to check out our post on Cleaning Invisalign Braces.
Getting Invisalign Braces in Guelph
To start your Invisalign Braces journey, call our Guelph Dentist Office and book a consultation appointment to see how Invisalign can change your child’s smile. Invisalign is also available for adults to wear which makes the concept of wearing braces much more comfortable for those in professional environments.
