In the past, if your teen wanted a straighter smile, they had to deal with traditional braces and a mouth full of metal. Not only were braces not fun to look at, but they also meant certain foods were out of the question. However, with new advancements, your teen can straighten their teeth with clear aligners by Invisalign®.
Lancaster Dental Care Associates, located in Lancaster, California, is run by four expert dentists. Our team specializes in cosmetic dentistry, which includes straightening your teen’s teeth with treatments like Invisalign.
Braces used to be the only way for your teen to get their teeth straighter. While braces do the job of aligning your teeth, they are more difficult to care for and limit what your teen can eat. Invisalign is different; the innovative system uses clear aligners to give your teen a beautiful smile.
So how do the clear aligners work?
Invisalign uses custom aligners specifically molded to your teen’s mouth to gently move their teeth back into the proper position.
Every few weeks, your teen changes the aligners. so their teeth continue to move into a straighter position.
Invisalign uses a patented technology called SmartTrack® to effectively improve your teen’s smile. SmartTrack is a type of thermoplastic that fits snugly over your teen’s teeth and applies a slight amount of pressure.
When one of our expert dentists tells you your teen needs their teeth straightened, how do you know the right choice for treatment? The truth is, many times, it comes down to your teen’s preference.
However, Invisalign and traditional braces differ, so knowing the advantages and disadvantages of both helps you and your teen make an educated decision. Invisalign offers many benefits for both adults and teens alike, which include:
Unlike braces, the clear aligners are removable. That means better oral hygiene for your teen and a lot less decay and cavities. The aligners should be worn all day and night, except to eat and brush or floss.
If your teen is like most, they’re a little self-conscious when it comes to the way they look. Braces mean a mouth full of metal. Alternatively, Invisalign is an inconspicuous way to straighten their teeth.
The aligners fit snugly over your teen’s teeth and are completely clear, meaning more confidence and less worry about treatment.
Traditional metal braces mean wires and brackets, which can really irritate your teen’s mouth. Sores and inflammation are common with braces.
Invisalign, on the other hand, doesn’t lead to any sore spots in your teen’s gums or cheeks. Because the clear aligners are custom fit to your teen’s mouth, there isn’t any area where the aligners rub or cause friction.
Invisalign doesn’t have any parts that can break — which isn’t the case for metal braces. Brackets and wires have the potential to snap, meaning an emergency trip to our office. The clear aligners with Invisalign don’t have any extra parts that could be damaged, meaning no late-night emergency calls.
Another benefit to Invisalign that your teen will love is that they can basically eat anything they want because the clear aligners are removed for meals. With braces, they’re not able to eat anything sticky or chewy because of the risk of it breaking the brackets.
As long as your teen brushes and flosses well after eating, the possibilities are endless with the clear aligners of Invisalign.
If you and your teen are interested in learning more about Invisalign, call our office to schedule a consultation at 661-282-7512, or you can book an appointment online.
