The modern method of orthodontic treatment, Invisalign, offers dental patients a comfortable, attractive choice for straightening teeth. No hard brackets or wires are used like those required for treatments with corrective dental braces. The process is streamlined and concise, making this treatment ideal for all orthodontic patients. Invisalign is currently the method used to align the teeth of more than 17 million children, teens, and adults of all ages.
The opinions of professional dental experts along with feedback from enthusiastic patients reveal the appealing benefits of Invisalign. Patients and orthodontists praise the capacity of this treatment method for straightening teeth, correcting dental misalignment, and producing beautiful smiles.
Invisalign Treatment Enhances Smiles for All Age Groups
Dental patients like the fact that these versatile aligners have no harsh metal wires or brackets. This makes them far more comfortable for the mouths of all ages of wearers. They are ideal for straightening children’s teeth due to their easy-to-wear design. Also, these aligners can be removed while eating some foods and for flossing, brushing, and other oral care.
Many teenagers are very focused on their physical appearance as they transition from childhood into young adult life. Aside from the clear, almost invisible design of dental aligners, Invisalign for teens treatment includes compliance indicators. These indicators monitor and remind teen patients about their wearing time for aligners. This helps teenagers progress through their treatment without delays.
Some adults delay scheduling orthodontic treatment because they fear that traditional metal braces will downgrade their appearance. They think that wearing metal braces may interfere with their social and professional lives. The nearly invisible aligners by Invisalign prevent such fears and offer convenient removal for meals and business meetings when desired.
Older adults who need dental alignment may also hesitate to wear metal braces. They may feel that this treatment for teeth is intended for children, teenagers, or young adults. Yet the clear, discreet Invisalign design is a comfortable, effective, and attractive solution for their smile-enhancing needs.
Benefits of Invisalign Teeth Straightening for Children
Children age six and above can gain a bright, beautiful new smile. They can also avoid the pain and discomfort commonly felt from wearing hard metal braces. These youngsters can also develop better oral health care when treated with Invisalign First™. Smiles change as kids grow. From age 6 to 10 years is often the ideal time for children to get their first orthodontic treatment for straightening teeth. During this time frame, most kids lose baby teeth and grow permanent ones.
Invisalign First is known as Phase 1 treatment, as shown in these graphics: Early Phase I Treatment, Later Phase I Results
During Phase 1, the focus is on helping children develop their jaws and arches. This makes room both for baby teeth and their permanent replacements. The aligners during Phase One are structured to correct a wide variety of teeth-straightening problems that often occur as kids grow. These problems may include spacing issues, tooth crowding, and dental arches that are too narrow.
Children who are fitted with traditional rigid metal braces can have delays in proper speech development. Yet, when treated with Phase 1 of Invisalign, kids are protected from having this problem. These clear, soft, and more pliable dental aligners can protect youngsters from having speech-related problems. They can easily learn to pronounce difficult words or syllables without being hindered by hard metal braces.
Soft braces also prevent irritations, scrapes, or slight cuts that can occur from metal braces’ loosened wires or brackets. Most kids do not object to wearing these comfortable teeth straighteners after the initial period of treatment. Also, they can remove the aligners to enjoy eating their favorite gooey or sticky treats. For this reason, they are more likely to stick to this effective smile-enhancing dental plan.
The advanced design of Invisalign Phase I also includes compliance monitoring technology. It can reveal whether young orthodontic patients are wearing their aligners as much as prescribed and needed for treatment. This compliance program can also track each patient’s progress throughout treatment. Parents of these kids are typically grateful for this effective monitoring system.
Updated Invisalign Palatal Expander System
In the 1950s, the first palatal expander design was introduced to dental treatment. It operated by inserting a very small key into a central hole to widen the appliance each day. As you can imagine, this procedure was quite stressful and disliked by child dental patients.
Yet, the newly updated design of this expander system has a group of 3D-printed expanders. These expanders can be extended on a daily schedule to produce space for adult teeth in kids’ mouths. There is no need for manual cranking, which reduces fear and stress for young dental patients.
This new palatal expander design is most effective in treating kids while their bones are still developing. Palatal expansion treatment is also used during orthodontic care for some teens and adults. Yet, since their bones are developed and hardened, treatment can take significantly longer than in children.
Invisalign Benefits for Teens During Orthodontic Care
Many teenagers are very aware of their appearance. They may feel self-conscious, uncomfortable, or unattractive at school or social events when wearing hard metal braces. Aside from the clear, nearly invisible design of dental aligners, Invisalign for teens treatment offers compliance indicators. These indicators reveal how long the patient is wearing the aligners each day.
With the discreet teeth-straightening Invisalign design, teenagers can have a stunning, confident smile faster than with metal braces. In fact, they can get this dazzling smile five months sooner than when treated with metal dental braces. This amazing enhanced smile from Invisalign for teens actually requires fewer visits to the orthodontist than metal braces. Even complex dental alignment can be accomplished within a short treatment time.
Another advantage for teens of teeth alignment with Invisalign for teens is the versatility of these aligners. For example, teenage patients can remove these soft aligners easily to participate in sports. They can also remove their aligners before eating. This allows them to eat the foods of their choice without clogging or damaging their aligners. Most of all, teens delight in seeing improvements in their smiles within a few weeks of treatment with Invisalign. See “Pros and Cons” chart for Soft Aligners and Metal Braces
Invisalign Treatment Advantages for Adults
Many adult dental patients are also attracted to the advantages of teeth alignment with Invisalign for adults treatment. In the majority of adult cases, beautiful smiles are achieved within six to nine months when wearing these soft aligners. This shorter length of time compared to the time required to straighten teeth with metal braces is very appealing.
Especially for working adults who often attend social events, the discreet design of these clear, soft aligners is attractive. The aesthetic appeal of wearing clear, nearly invisible braces from Invisalign for adults is greatly appreciated by these professionals. Since they typically have important social commitments, these adults are especially pleased by the discreet quality of soft, clear aligners. The ease of cleaning and care is also pleasing to adults with fast-paced daily schedules.
Invisalign for adults treatments include arch expansion when needed and realignment for dental crowding and spacing issues. Other dental problems that are corrected with Invisalign include aesthetic alignment, tooth protrusions, and A-P correction. To strengthen retention on short clinical crowns, advanced retention attachments are placed automatically by software today. These attachments can adjust, adapting size according to the buccal tooth surface. The largest attachments can then be placed for improved bonding. See “Before and After” images of Invisalign treatment.
Comparing Advantages and Considerations of Invisalign for Different Ages
All ages of orthodontic patients can benefit from dental treatment with Invisalign. Bright, beautiful smiles can be enjoyed by children, teens, and adults of all ages after this treatment. Whether patients need teeth straightening, realignment, palatal expansion or other smile-enhancing treatments, Invisalign is recommended.
Invisalign patient treatments for different ages are explained by experts at Elara Orthodontics in Richmond and Houston Heights, TX. Some common differences in treatments for children, teens, and adults include the following:
• Palatal expansion may be required in orthodontic treatment for children to ensure enough mouth space for incoming permanent teeth. Yet, in adults, this Invisalign for adults treatment is typically needed to provide space for realigning misplaced teeth.
• The reason most often given for choosing Invisalign orthodontic treatment for children is comfort. Teenagers, however, are usually attracted to this smile-enhancing treatment for aesthetic reasons. Teens also like being able to remove these aligners for eating and to wear them during athletics. Adults find the discreet quality of these clear, nearly invisible aligners and their ease of use and care attractive.
• Alignment of teeth for a dazzling smile takes less time with Invisalign than with traditional metal braces. Yet, teens and adults must understand that their treatments usually require more time than Invisalign orthodontic treatment for children. This is because the bone structures and teeth of older teens and adults are fully developed and hardened.
Conclusion
The orthodontic needs for different patient age groups are typically quite different. Major Invisalign orthodontic treatment for children considerations are often preparing small mouths for the arrival of permanent teeth. For teens, however, the attractive look and versatile use of clear, soft aligners are most important. Yet, for adult patients, the discreet quality of these aligners plus their easy care are very attractive.
To ensure an excellent treatment plan for a healthy, beautiful smile, schedule a consultation with a recommended orthodontist. For expert advice and care, contact Elara Orthodontics in Richmond, TX, today. Our dental specialists at Elara Orthodontics in Richmond and Houston Heights will outline your very best treatment plan. They can offer top-quality treatments for you and all of your family members. Experience the joy and confidence of bright, dazzling smiles with Invisalign.