If your teenager needs to have his or her bite corrected but recoils at the very thought of braces, then Invisalign Teen is just the thing for both of you.
About Invisalign
Invisalign is custom-made for the patient. First, the dentist will take impressions of the patient’s teeth. Those impressions are shipped to a dental lab. There, the technician custom makes aligners, which are comfortable plastic trays that the patient wears most of the day and which gently realign the bite over time. The patient takes the aligners out to eat and brush and floss his or her teeth, which is a great improvement over traditional braces. Traditional braces can not only not be taken out, but the patient is prohibited from eating foods, like taffy or popcorn, that can get caught in the wires. Traditional braces can interfere with playing certain musical instruments or playing contact sports. But even when the aligners are in place, they’re still invisible. This makes Invisalign ideal for teenagers, who put a premium on their social lives.
The Treatment
The patient will have checkups with his or her dentist during the time he or she is using Invisalign to make sure that all is going as planned and to update the aligners. The patient usually gets new aligners every two weeks or so. Invisalign costs about as much as traditional braces, which is about $5,000.
Difference Between Adult and Teen
One difference between Invisalign for teens and Invisalign for adults is that the treatment takes a bit longer for teens. Adults usually need to wear Invisalign for about a year, while still-maturing teenagers may need to wear Invisalign for two years. Also, Invisalign Teen comes with blue dot wear indicators and eruption tabs. In the first case, the blue dots fade to indicate that the aligners need to be changed, and the eruption tabs accommodate second molars that may come in. But the process is basically the same.
Invisalign Teen in Bolivar, Missouri
If you’re the parent of a teenager who can benefit from Invisalign Teen, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your family dentist! Dr. Paul Gonzales with Bolivar Family Dental proudly serves the Bolivar, Missouri as well as the communities of Springfield, Buffalo, Halfway, Pleasant Hope, Stockton, Fair Play, Morrisville, Eldorado Springs and Wheatland. Please do not hesitate to call us at (417) 777-8654 with any questions or to schedule a free Invisalign consultation for your teen.
Click the Schedule An Appointment above to set up a free Invisalign Teen consultation!
Group of Happy Teens
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