Invisalign Teen is an attractive treatment option for adolescents who want to straighten their smiles but don’t want to suffer through traditional orthodontic appliances in the process. The first step in this treatment is to schedule an orthodontic evaluation for your child.
At this initial appointment, the orthodontist will examine your child’s teeth and take x-rays and/or dental impressions. All of these details will inform the treatment approach and whether it is better to proceed with Invisalign Teen or conventional braces.
If the orthodontist determines that Invisalign Teen can help your child to achieve the desired repositioning of the teeth, the information obtained at this initial consultation will be used in the design of the clear plastic trays that apply forces to the teeth in order to move them.
Because these plastic trays are doing the job of the brackets and wires used in traditional braces, you and your child should work together to make sure that the trays are worn as recommended. They must be worn for at least 20-22 hours each day – although they can be removed at mealtime and for brushing and flossing – and they should be swapped out according to the schedule provided, usually about every two weeks or so.
Another advantage of Invisalign is that your child won’t need to come to our office as often. You don’t need a specialist to make adjustments to appliances. Switching trays takes care of that. Our staff will monitor your progress from time to time, but you probably won’t need to come in for appointments as frequently as you would with standard braces – as long as you continue to follow the plan.
Of course, teens are also drawn in by the opportunity to straighten their teeth without obscuring their smiles in the months that the process takes. This is another reward for the patient responsibility associated with Invisalign.
Are you a parent who would like to explore whether Invisalign Teen would be an effective intervention to straighten your child’s smile? If so, call San Antonio Orthodontics at 210-970-7638 and schedule an initial consultation to get started down this path.