Can Clear Aligners Be Used on Children and Teens?

Continue reading to find out.

Aligners for Children

Can clear aligner systems be used on children and teens? Yes, absolutely.

Of course, in order to be used on children, the child will have to be at a certain stage of development in order to begin treatment. This usually occurs between the ages of 6 and 10; this stage of treatment is referred to as Phase 1 treatment, and it is done in order to serve as preventative orthodontic care.

During this treatment stage, the child’s development will be closely monitored in order to intercept any issues that may arise in the future.

It is important to keep in mind that the aligner trays must be worn for at least 22 hours each day in order to provide optimal results. In order for a clear aligner system to be beneficial for your child, he or she must be mature enough to recognize the importance of keeping their trays in their mouth and keeping track of where they are at all times.

Invisalign trays feature compliance indicators, which the dentist will use to confirm if your child is wearing their trays or not. If you do not feel that your child is mature enough to keep track of their trays and wear them as recommended, you may want to have a consultation with our orthodontist to discuss your options.

Aligners for Teens

Teenagers often struggle with their self esteem and place a strong emphasis on their personal appearance as they navigate the trials of growing up. It’s for this reason that traditional braces are widely disliked by teens; they aren’t aesthetically pleasing, and are often a source of embarrassment.

Clear aligners provide a great solution to these issues, allowing teens to smile with confidence while undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Of course, just as with treatment for children, it is crucial to ensure that your teen is mature enough to understand the importance of wearing their trays for 22 hours each day and to keep track of their whereabouts.

It is also important to determine if your teen is a candidate for clear aligners; if they did not undergo preventative orthodontic treatment at a young age, they may have a more progressed case that requires more invasive treatment. A consultation with your teen’s dentist or orthodontist will help determine if he or she is a candidate.

Benefits of Clear Aligners

Traditionally, the only method of achieving straight teeth was with the use of metal braces. The introduction of clear aligner systems such as Invisalign completely revolutionized the process of achieving a straight and beautiful smile.

Below are the benefits of using a clear aligner system as compared with traditional braces:

• Less treatment time
• Discreet-barely visible
• Less painful
• Lower overall cost
• Easy to clean
• Aligners can be removed when necessary
• No food restrictions
• More comfortable

To determine if your child or teen is a candidate for clear aligners in San Jose, give us a call at Willow Glen Dental Specialists (408) 478-9081.