Invisalign can be an excellent alternative to braces to align your child’s teeth and improve their long-term oral health. In addition, Invisalign can be used to treat many orthodontic issues and can help your child learn the importance of taking responsibility in terms of their treatment.

To get the process started, you’ll want to schedule your child’s first orthodontic visit by the time they reach the age of seven. Then, Dr. Sol and his team at Braces Now can determine if orthodontic treatment with Invisalign clear aligners is the right choice for your child.

How Does the Process Work for Kids?

Invisalign uses SmartTrack® and SmartForce® technology to move the teeth.

As kids will have both baby and permanent teeth, Invisalign will treat orthodontic issues during phase one of a child’s development (6 to 10 years old). In addition, this process helps prepare a child’s dental health for phase two of their development (10 to 14 years old).

However, it’s essential to remember that Invisalign requires an extra layer of responsibility versus traditional metal braces. A child will need to wear their Invisalign aligners for at least 20 hours a day.

In between taking their Invisalign clear aligners off to eat and brush their teeth, your child will need to take a few minutes to clean the aligners. Doing so prevents the build-up of plaque and bacteria which can discolor the aligners and your child’s teeth.

How Is the Invisalign Process for Kids Different Than for Adults?

The Invisalign for kids process is relatively the same for kids and adults alike. Our on-site iTero digital scanner takes a quick and accurate scan of your child’s teeth. We then use these scans to create a digital image of their smile that is analyzed to determine a course of action for treatment.

The only main difference is that the treatment time will differ between children and adults. Because your child’s mouth is still developing, typically treatment times are faster and the teeth are easier to shift. However, treatment time ultimately depends on the severity of issues needing to be corrected. During your initial consultation with Dr. Sol, he and his team will review your child’s full treatment plan, including the length of treatment.

How Can Kids Benefit From Using Invisalign?

Invisalign has many features that many find to be beneficial compared to a more traditional treatment option such as braces.

  • Visual appeal: Invisalign is relatively invisible, which can significantly boost a child’s confidence. They can smile without being worried about having metal braces, which are highly noticeable and tend to be bulkier.
  • Convenient: While Invisalign does require a child to wear their aligners for the majority of the day, only taking them off to eat or brush, they tend to be more convenient than other options. A considerable advantage is that your child can enjoy all their favorite foods. They won’t be limited to soft foods and can enjoy hard, chewy, and even sticky treats.
  • Low maintenance: Once your child gets into a routine of wearing and taking off their aligners, maintaining them is very straightforward. Unfortunately, it’s common for braces wearers to experience broken brackets or loose wires. Not only can this cause discomfort, but they tend to require more frequent trips to our office for adjustments and repairs should any accidents occur.

Just like braces, Invisalign can solve many orthodontic issues including crowded teeth, gaps, overbites, underbites, crossbites, etc. To determine if Invisalign for kids is the proper treatment for your child, Braces Now in Norcross, GA, can help!