What Parents Need to Know About Invisalign for Kids

Having crooked teeth can really make a person extremely self-conscious, especially when it comes to their smile. Now, imagine in this day and age how a child would feel knowing that their teeth look funny and having a reason to be picked on and bullied at school? That kind of stress is too much for a kid to handle, especially when it’s something that can actually be changed. While Invisalign is extremely effective and can help give your smile a total makeover for adults and teenagers, it is also possible under certain circumstances to be a solution for kids, too.

When living in small areas such as Templestowe, people encounter each other on a daily basis and will spot the defects easily in your child, making it even worse for someone with crooked teeth. That doesn’t mean that your little one can’t visit a dentist in Templestowe and have their teeth inspected to decide whether they’re a suitable candidate for Invisalign. The dentist will be able to decide on the best treatment possible, but usually Invisalign is preferred over braces as it is almost completely invisible. However, there is one certain factor that needs to be taken into consideration when thinking of having Invisalign for your kid: 

Age 

Invisalign can really help with a kid’s self-confidence and give them a beautiful smile once their teeth placements have been altered with Invisalign. However, while age isn’t an actual restriction, it is necessary for the child to have lost all their baby teeth in order to make sure that they’re permanently in that position instead of wasting time fixing teeth that will fall out anyway. But, if your child’s baby teeth have fallen out already, then having Invisalign would all be good.

Invisalign requires the tray to be worn for an average of 22 hours per day, so it is important for your child to be able to not only understand that but also be capable and willing to keep it on even when you’re not around to monitor their behaviour. If you’d like to make sure, you can track if your child has been wearing their aligners frequently as they come with blue compliance indicators which disappear when they are being used on a regular basis. 

Why Invisalign is more suitable for kids than normal braces? 

The advantage of using Invisalign doesn’t only stem from its invisibility making it not as obvious as braces, but also comes from the idea that it can be removed when the teeth need to be cleaned. This ensures that your child’s teeth can be washed and thoroughly cleaned without having to risk the braces preventing your child from reaching certain areas of the teeth. Combine that with not having to buy special gear or cleaning products like it is necessary for braces, and add another point to use Invisalign for your child. That is because the clear aligners are removed and your child can go about brushing their teeth and flossing like they would have every day anyway. 

Eating

It is also possible to eat pretty much anything, as Invisalign is also removed during meals, not only making it easier for your child to eat all kinds of food but also preventing bits and pieces from getting stuck in them just like what happens with braces. You also don’t have to worry about what would happen if they eat things like chips, gum or popcorn behind your back as it won’t affect their aligners. 

Pain Level

When it comes to pain, it is far less painful to get clear aligners than it is to get metal braces and you don’t have to worry about the wires or any broken brackets that could cause more harm to your child’s mouth. That sounds like a pretty good reason for a child to opt for Invisalign instead of braces, don’t you think? 

Improvement

Another advantage of opting for Invisalign instead of traditional braces is due to the technology evident in this treatment. Invisalign can help the process of getting your teeth fixed up to 50% faster. That means that your child can get rid of their faulty teeth, have them fixed and ensure they have a beautiful smile so much faster than braces, saving them a lot of discomfort, anxiety and even bullying. 

Cost

While technology usually comes with a heavy price tag, Invisalign is no longer as expensive as when it first came out and in some cases is even cheaper and more cost-effective than getting braces. 

Your kid’s teeth can really affect the way they feel about themselves, especially when they feel like there’s a defect in their appearance. So, instead of putting them through a lot of misery and lowering their self-esteem, it is worth checking with a doctor whether your child is a suitable candidate for Invisalign and giving them the chance to get a smile makeover.