When Is Invisalign A Good Choice For Teens?
Posted on: 4 October 2018
A lot of teenagers get braces to straighten their teeth, and many teens today choose Invisalign for this purpose. If your teen needs braces and is asking for Invisalign, you might be wondering if this is really a good idea. After all, the aligners used in this type of system are removable, and you might worry that your teen might lose them or forget to wear them. If this is the situation you are in, here are several important things to know about teens and Invisalign.
There Are Rules Teens Must Follow
When a person, adult or teen, gets Invisalign, there are rules they must follow. For example, one rule is that the person should wear the aligners for 22 hours each day. This basically means that the person must wear them all the time. Secondly, people with clear aligners cannot eat or drink things, other than water, while wearing the aligners. These are the main rules that a person must follow if they want the aligners to work.
Teens Can Learn Responsibility
If your concern is that your teen is not the most responsible person in the world and you fear he or she will not wear the aligners, you could view this as a good way to teach your teen responsibility. If the teen is not wearing the aligners as he or she is supposed to, the dentist is going to know and will confront the teen about it. The teen will find out that his or her teeth are not shifting as they supposed to, so it will take much longer for the teeth to straighten out. This can be a great way for a teen to learn about consequences, and it may encourage your teen to become more responsible.
Invisalign May Help with Self-Esteem Issues
Another thing to consider is the self-esteem of your teen. Many teens have low self-esteem, and wearing traditional braces can result in even lower self-esteem. If your teen struggles with a self-esteem issue, choosing Invisalign could help. With this system, your teen will not have to worry about anyone knowing he or she has braces because the aligners are clear, and this could help your teen feel better about him or herself.
Additionally, Invisalign is perfect for kids who play sports. With the clear aligners, your child will not be prone to cuts on his or her gums if a ball or person hits them during a sporting activity.
The Costs Are Often Around the Same
If you are like most parents, you might be concerned with the extra costs you will have to pay with Invisalign compared to traditional braces. If this is the case, you should understand that both options cost about the same amount. Therefore, you should not worry about paying more for Invisalign. If you want, you could even get a quote for both types. This would help you compare the differences in costs and other features of both options.
You Will Need an Evaluation First
One other thing to know is that before your teen can get Invisalign, a dentist must evaluate his or her mouth, and there are several important things dentists look for during these evaluations. First of all, the dentist will see what types of problems the teen has with his or her teeth. Secondly, the dentist will look to see if all the teen's teeth have fully erupted.
Dentists today offer traditional Invisalign, but they also have Invisalign for Teens. If you think this might be a good fit for your teen, you can schedule an evaluation with a dentist by contacting a clinic like RTC Dental in your city.
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