Traditional metal braces have dominated the oral alignment market for years, however, not anymore. For parents in the Albany, NY area considering Invisalign teen for their children, there are some common questions they frequently ask. In addition, finding the best place to get Invisalign is not only important for the patient, but for the parents as well. Traditional braces can come with various drawbacks such as discomfort and annoyances that go along with having metal brackets cemented to your teeth. Braces can also bring a financial burden on a family, specifically if the necessary steps toward alignment are not fully executed by the patient.

As a teen, life is complicated enough. Help bring your teen’s confidence back while getting the smile they deserve with Invisalign! Invisalign for teens is customized to fit your teen’s mouth, it’s clear, easily removable, comfortable, and guaranteed to straighten your teen’s teeth. It’s up to you to decide if Invisalign aligners are right for your teen.

  1. How does Invisalign Teen work?

Invisalign Teen uses clear aligners to help alleviate various oral issues, made specifically for each patient. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign creates an almost invisible way to straighten teen using custom sized aligners specifically tailored to the needs of each patient. Using Invisalign abolishes the main disadvantages of traditional braces, as they can create immense discomfort from the use of wires, brackets, and bands. Instead, the simple clear aligners are not only comfortable, but also effective and inconspicuous. But how do these simple plastic trays actually move your teen’s teeth? They actually align the teeth in a similar way braces do. The fixed aligners put pressure on the teeth to move to a specific position, and once they get to that desired position, your teen can replace that aligner with a new one. This switch happens every two weeks as your teeth continue to move. There is possibility for slight discomfort as your teeth adjust to the new aligner, but generally much less than with traditional braces.

  1. What happens if my teen loses an aligner?

Losing aligners is more common than you may think. It is quite possible that your teen may take out the aligners to eat at lunch, put them onto a napkin, and throw the napkin away accidentally. Your teen might leave them at a friend’s house, or they might, as things do, just disappear. In general, you can simply get a replacement aligner by contacting your dentist and letting them know that the aligners have gone missing. If your teen was close to the time they received the swapped out aligners, your orthodontic team may just move onto the next set and not worry about a replacement for the time being.

  1. How does the cost of Invisalign compare to other options?

One of the biggest misconceptions around Invisalign is that it costs more than other treatments. Actually, Invisalign and traditional braces actually cost around the same amount and is a majority of the time, covered by insurance. With that being said, traditional braces require your teen to wear a retainer regularly after the braces are off, and if they don’t, you may have to repurchase braces for your teen in the future. After the Invisalign process is successful, you can remove the aligners more frequently, and put them back in when you choose to do so. This makes the alignment process with Invisalign faster than with traditional braces and helps save money in the long run. The specifics of costs are different for each teen so you will ultimately have to ask your orthodontist the price difference, however, they are typically very similar.

  1. How many hours a day does my teen need to wear the aligners?

In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, it is encouraged for your teen to wear the aligners for a minimum of twenty-two hours of the day. This gives your teen plenty of time to take the aligners out for eating and for cleaning. Taking the aligners out for specific extracurricular activities is allowed as long as it is for a brief time. In addition, if your teen plays sports, the aligners give extra protection to your teen’s teeth by creating a small barrier in their mouth. Invisalign Teen is also designed to be discreet enough to be worn at all times without disrupting your teen’s busy lifestyle. Therefore, keeping the aligners in for the optimal time is not typically an issue.

  1. How can I know if my teen is wearing the aligners?

We will be able to tell if they have worn the aligners or not when your teen comes in for their regular check up. If your teen is progressing at the right rate, it will be obvious to us that they aligners have been worn correctly and as much as possible. If however, the teeth seem to be behind schedule, this could be an indication that they are not wearing the aligners as much as they should. You can help motivate and encourage your teen to wear the aligners by reassuring them of their dream smile once they’re done!

  1. What are some common issues associated with Invisalign?

The biggest issue that we commonly see with Invisalign for teen patients is that they simply do not wear their aligners enough. Especially in the beginning stages of wearing the aligners, there is an adjustment period. During this time, it is common to hear your teen speak with a slight lisp or notice increased saliva production as the mouth adjusts to something new it it’s environment. These things can sometimes discourage a teen from consistently wearing the aligners. However, it is up to the parents to reassure their teen that these issues are temporary and are slight side effects of getting the best smile they can.

  1. Are there any dietary restrictions?

With metal braces, there are numerous dietary restrictions due to food getting easily stuck in the braces, or worse, being yanked out. When your teen is frequently out and about, it is difficult to monitor exactly what they eat day to day and to see if they are actually following the dietary restrictions. With Invisalign for teens, however, there are no dietary restrictions. Since the aligners are easily removable each time you eat, your teen will have the freedom to continuously eat all their favorite foods, and you won’t have to adjust to new restrictions. Your teen can eat whatever they want, whenever they’d like.

 

A teen with misalignment and  other oral issues can lead to insecurities and more serious health problems in the future. Getting Invisalign as opposed to metal braces helps solve these issues in the most inconspicuous ways, perfect for a teenager in their most crucial developmental time. These plastic aligners do the same work as traditional metal braces, but without the pain and discomfort. Invisalign are made specifically for teenagers and universally lauded as being easier to wear, less noticeable, and more comfortable than braces. Don’t let braces stand in the way of your teen’s confidence, get the best Invisalign aligners for your teen!