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If your child has dental issues that need attention, deciding on a straightening option can be confusing and time-consuming. There are many factors to consider, and braces and Invisalign for kids have their benefits. If you are looking into Invisalign First for your child, read on to learn more about the benefits of Invisalign treatment.
Is Invisalign for Kids The Best Option?
Invisalign can be a great option for your child, but discussing your child’s individual needs and responsibility level is crucial. In general, clear Invisalign aligners are great for straightforward cases and even more severe cases, but it will ultimately depend on your child’s unique needs.
At Northern Virginia Orthodontics, we are happy to help you navigate this decision and find the best straightening option for your child. Read on for more information about Invisalign treatments that will help you make this decision.
When Can My Child Start Invisalign?
In most cases, you can begin Invisalign for kids treatment for your child as early as age six, which is commonly referred to as Phase I treatment. During Phase 1 treatment, your doctor will utilize Invisalign First clear aligners to help your child’s developing jaw make room for existing and future teeth. Invisalign First is designed to treat a broad range of teeth straightening issues, has no pokey wires or metal brackets, and can be removed to continue building your child’s good oral hygiene habits.
Maturity Plays A Part
Invisalign recommends wearing your aligners 22 hours per day, so you’ll have to discuss with your child a plan to ensure they remember to wear their aligners throughout the day.
Our doctors find that pediatric patients are more responsible with their aligner wear than most adult patients!
Invisalign for Kids Is Convenient
One of the main benefits of Invisalign aligners is their convenience. Invisalign aligners can be removed, which means your child doesn’t have to miss out on fun festivities like eating candy on Halloween or having popcorn at the movies with friends.
Just As Effective As Braces
Northern Virginia Orthodontics is the #1 Invisalign provider in the nation, which means NVO’s doctors can treat any case with Invisalign. Invisalign treats many orthodontic issues like overcrowding, underbites, gaps, and more, ranging from mild cases to more severe cases.
Keeping Your Treatment On Track With Invisalign Chewies
Much like adjusting to having braces, wearing your Invisalign aligners can be uncomfortable at first. Luckily, Invisalign aligners have no pokey wires or metal brackets like traditional braces, which means significantly less pain and irritation. If your child is experiencing some discomfort when beginning to wear his or her aligners, Invisalign chewies can be incredibly helpful.
Answering Your Invisalign Chewies Questions
Answering Your Invisalign Chewies Questions So, what are Invisalign chewies, and how do they help with comfort and effectiveness? Invisalign chewies are a device your child can chew on to help close the space between their aligners and their teeth. When the space is closed, your child will experience a more comfortable fitting aligner and a more effective treatment. Chewies are only necessary when your aligners are not fitting correctly.
How do you use chewies? To use chewies, bite down for 5-10 minutes, occasionally moving the chewie around to different areas of your teeth, making sure to give special attention to any areas where you see air bubbles. We recommend using your chewies before bed so that your aligners fit correctly throughout the night. Luckily for you, chewies are reusable until they lose their shape and can be easily purchased online.
Invisalign Means Less Time At The Orthodontist
Children have busy lives. When you’re a kid, it’s all about hanging out with friends, playing sports, and having fun with extracurricular activities. Wearing braces, you'll have to frequently attend the dentist to have wires adjusted. These appointments can add up, especially if you have to get off work each time.
While with Invisalign, you’ll still have to attend appointments, but the frequency is much lower since your child will be able to change their aligners at home. This can save you time and money, making Invisalign a smart financial decision for some.
Traditional braces are also prone to more issues, such as pokey wires, broken brackets, and appliance issues. This means finding time in your schedule to visit the orthodontist between your regular appointments to have these issues corrected. Since Invisalign does not use any metal or wires, you and your child will enjoy little to no emergency appointments at the orthodontist!
How Can I Help My Child Keep Up With Their Aligners?
To help ensure your child doesn’t lose his or her aligners, NVO provides you with a sleek aligner case you can take with you anywhere. This is a great place to store aligners during meal times, can fit easily in a backpack or desk, and will keep your aligners clean when not worn. NVO can also provide replacement aligner cases if needed.
If they’re away from home, always make sure they pack a case with them so there is a place they can put their aligners.
Invisalign Aligners Are Removable For Easy Hygiene
When children have braces, food can get stuck in between wires, making flossing and brushing more difficult from time to time. This also can increase the chance of cavities or other dental problems. With Invisalign, your child can brush and floss their teeth as they normally would.
The only change is cleaning their aligners. When they remove their aligners, they need to clean them with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. For more detailed information on cleaning your Invisalign aligners, click here.
Invisalign Decreases The Risk Of Cavities
Cavities can be super common when it comes to children. If your child isn’t properly taking care of their teeth, it creates an environment for pesky cavities to form.
With braces, extra steps often have to be taken when it comes to cleaning. Of course, kids will cut corners from time to time to get back to their fun activities. With Invisalign, you don’t have to worry about food getting stuck, which helps prevent plaque from forming. Of course, we do not claim that Invisalign completely removes the risk of your child getting a cavity, but any reduction is a win in our book!
Invisalign Is Ideal For Athletes
If your child loves to play sports, Invisalign can be a great option. It’s not uncommon for mouth injuries to occur during games, and if your child has braces, you run the risk of an emergency visit if a bracket or wire punctures their lip.
Invisalign takes away this worry and allows your kid to wear proper safety equipment like mouthguards. Kids should have fun playing sports without the fear of an injury from their straightening choice.
Invisalign Helps With Confidence
Kids can be brutal to each other sometimes. We all know that there is a certain stigma around kids wearing braces. Ever heard the term “brace face?”
It may not seem like a big deal to us, but getting taunted over their teeth can be horrible for kids. Sure, customizing their braces with colors can help, but Invisalign completely eliminates this hassle due to their discreet look and ability to be removed.
Safely Style With Invisalign Stickables
As mentioned above, braces are customizable with colored rubber bands. You may be worried that Invisalign aligners take the fun away since they’re clear and to the point.
No need to worry because Invisalign Stickables are here to save the day! With Invisalign Stickables, your child can safely style their aligners by adding stickers that match their vibe! There are many options to choose from, so your child can switch it up whenever they like. Now that’s something to show off.
Our Final Thoughts
Overall, Invisalign has many benefits for kids that make it a good option for you to consider. Just like adult Invisalign treatment, you and your NVO treatment coordinator will discuss all possible options for your child’s teeth straightening and agree on their treatment plan. To request an appointment to discuss Invisalign for your child, click here.
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