Invisalign
Considering Invisalign for Kids?
Straight teeth are important for more than cosmetic reasons! Three main ways your child will lose teeth: are cavities, gum disease, and crooked teeth; however, if you have straight teeth that work well together, you significantly lower your chance of developing any of these conditions. Teeth that are straight up and down, not tilted or angled, are the secret to getting and maintaining optimal oral health, provided you continue to brush and floss daily.
Consequences of teeth that are not straight
Consequences directly in the mouth: If your child has a bad bite, instead of their teeth sliding and working together correctly when they eat, the teeth collide. Things that collide break; this is what will happen to your child's teeth if the bad bite is not treated. Abfractions (notches in teeth near the gums), wearing teeth, golf ball molars. When these problems start presenting themselves in adulthood, treatment options include crowns, root canals, and sometimes extractions; this equates to more time spent in the dental chair and more money out of pocket.
Crowding teeth are harder to clean. I say crowding not crowded because teeth get more crooked over time the older we get, especially the lower front teeth. When your child cannot adequately brush and floss, there is a buildup of plaque and bacteria, which leads to increased cavities. Your child can get periodontal disease which is linked to diabetes, low birth weight, Alzheimer's, and heart disease. Not only will your child spend more time getting fillings, root canals, and deep cleanings, they now have an increased risk of developing other medical conditions.
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How oral developmental problems affect sleep
Your child can develop Obstructive sleep apnea. Certainly, many things other than oral-related problems can cause obstructive sleep apnea. However, issues such as a narrow palate, an overbite, or overjet, have been linked to causing obstructive sleep apnea. Lack of sleep in some kids leads to chronic day-time tiredness, which causes learning problems and poor performance in school. Other kids that suffer from sleep apnea can become hyperactive instead of tired and sleepy during the day, leading to a misdiagnosis of ADHD. Children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea also tend to be overweight, which increases the risk of disease-related to obesity, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
What is the solution?
The great news is that we can reverse or fix structural dental issues with Invisalign treatment! Over 7 million patients worldwide have straight and functional teeth because of Invisalign clear aligner therapy. Interceptive (early) orthodontic treatment can reshape the face's bone structure, opening the airways. You want to start Invisalign treatment when your child's facial bones are still developing for more predictable treatment outcomes.
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What is Invisalign Treatment?
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Invisalign involves wearing a series of custom-made, clear aligners that move your teeth by applying force to the tooth's surface. Invisalign clear aligners are manufactured using a flexible smart track plastic material created specifically for your child based on the required treatment outcome.
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What should you expect at your Child's Invisalign Consultation Appointment?
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From the scan, a 3D mold of your child's teeth is created and used by the dentist to devise a treatment plan that directs the teeth where to move. This treatment plan is unique and customized to your child's needs. Align Technology manufactures the aligners from this customized plan and ships them to the dentist's office.
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Delivering the Invisalign Clear Aligners
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We will deliver the clear aligners and instruct you and your child on how to wear them. Usually, your child/teen will wear the same aligner for a week or two and switch to the next one. With each aligner switch, your kid's teeth move slightly (moving teeth too fast can damage them). These small movements amount to a lot of change, getting the teeth where they need to be.
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How Long will Invisalign treatment take?
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The length of your child's Invisalign treatment depends on the complexity of your child/teen's case, but typically treatment ranges from 6 months- to 2 years. Your dentist can use the Invisalign Go case assessment tool to see if your child/teen has complex tooth movements. If all required tooth movements are "easy," the treatment will take six months or less if there is at least one complex movement, the case will take at least a year.
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Types of Invisalign Treatments
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Invisalign First is also known as phase 1 treatment. It is ideal for kids between the ages of 6 and 10, even if they still have baby teeth, because it accommodates the eruption of teeth. Phase 1 Invisalign treatment can help break oral habits such as tongue thrusting and thumb sucking.
Invisalign Teen and Invisalign Full work the same; it is the treatment of choice when all permanent teeth erupt. Invisalign Teen is designed specifically for younger patients. The Invisalign clear aligners have compliance indicators to show if your child/ teen is wearing the aligners as prescribed by the dentist.
What Happens After Invisalign treatment
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After Invisalign, your child will get another set of impressions taken which are used to manufacture the retainers. Teeth remember where they come from, so if left to their own devices, they will shift back. Retainers are to be worn every night for life to prevent shifting. If you lose retainers, it is easy to get new ones to protect your child's teeth and your investment.
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Contact us today to ask questions, schedule an appointment or learn more.
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Benefits of Invisalign for Kids
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Aligners a comfortable due to the smart track material used to make them
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Aligners are removable, making it easy to eat whatever you want during treatment.
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Teeth are easy to clean during treatment. Your child can take out the Invisalign aligners, brush and floss their teeth as usual. It's easy to clean the aligners too!
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Invisible. Invisalign aligners are thin, clear, and fit snugly over your teeth, making them virtually invisible.
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Invisalign works well for a kids lifestyle and does not affect sports or extracurricular activities such as playing a musical instrument.
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Fewer visits and more predictable outcomes
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Fun stickers to put on to help your kid's personality shine through
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Invisalign aligners are removable, so your child or teen can take them out for pictures or particular events. If your child gets a cavity, no more coordinating with the orthodontist to remove brackets and wires before and after treatment.
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Considerations for Invisalign
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The one potential drawback for Invisalign is that aligners are removable. Your child is responsible for placing aligners in the case and putting them back in the mouth after. If your child does not typically lose a lot of their belongings at school, they will do well with Invisalign; however, if your child constantly loses things, there may be other options for them.
Invisalign Teen system has a fail-safe built-in where Invisalign will replace lost aligners for free (up to a certain number).
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How much does Invisalign cost?
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The cost for your child to start Invisalign treatment varies based on location, and the stage Invisalign treatment is started on them. Phase 1 treatment is cheaper than Phase 2 treatment. Once your child gets Phase 1 treatment, they may not need phase 2. If phase 2 treatment is necessary, the dentist will probably offer you a discount for that phase.
If you have dental insurance, check if your child or teen has orthodontic coverage. Orthodontic insurance may cover almost half of the total cost of Invisalign treatment. Check if the orthodontic coverage has an age limit because you want your child/teen to use those benefits before aging out
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Contact us today to ask questions, schedule an appointment or learn more.