How to Feel Confident Going Back to School with Invisalign

Orthodontic treatment most commonly begins between the ages of 9 and 14, when children have at least some adult teeth, but their jaw and mouth is still growing. This makes it possible to manipulate the teeth and position the jaw to address any bite or alignment issues.

Conventional orthodontic treatment usually takes place using braces. Braces have brackets, wires and eventually bands, which are adjusted to apply pressure to the teeth and jaw to move them into a new and improved position. However, as you might imagine, braces aren’t the most convenient or discreet dental device to wear. It can be hard to keep teeth clean; you’ll have to avoid eating certain foods so you don’t damage your brace and even the most natural color brackets and wires will still be pretty noticeable when you open your mouth to talk or smile. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, many young people lose confidence and self-esteem when they are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case if your child chooses an innovative new approach to orthodontic treatment called Invisalign. It can even be used by adults who are late to orthodontic treatment.

What’s Invisalign and how does it work?

Invisalign is a clear aligner solution to alignment and mild to moderate bite issues. These aligners, which are custom designed for each patient, are made from soft, transparent plastic – Invisalign’s patented SmartTrack material which is considered the most comfortable of all aligner-based treatments. They are worn over the teeth and, like braces, apply gentle and consistent pressure to them in order to move them into their new position.

Invisalign is supplied in a series of aligners, each that is slightly different to the last and each representing a different stage in the treatment. This means that they must be worn in the correct order to be effective. They must also be worn for a minimum of 22 hours each day, and only removed for cleaning them and your teeth, and for eating. Your child’s Invisalign provider will check on the progress of their treatment, but there won’t be any need for adjustments. When it is time, according to their treatment schedule, they will just need to move onto the next aligner in the series.

Confidence-boosting benefits of Invisalign for going back to school

Whether it is your child undergoing orthodontic treatment while still at school, or you are an adult seeking treatment to improve the position of your teeth and jaw, Invisalign has a number of confidence-boosting benefits.

Discretion.

Since they are made from clear plastic, Invisalign aligners are nearly impossible to spot when you are wearing them. This helps you to feel confident when you are talking, laughing and interacting with other people.

Comfortable.

There’s no sharp bits of plastic or wire, or irritating elastics to make your child feel uncomfortable.

Cleaner, healthier teeth.

Since they can and should be removed for cleaning, it is easy for wearers to keep Invisalign aligners and their own teeth extremely clean and healthy. As you might imagine, this is a challenge for braces-wearers, who have to negotiate tricky brackets and wires to get their teeth clean.

No compromises on food.

With braces, there are a whole list of foods you can’t eat. However, Invisalign aligners can and should be removed for eating, meaning there are no restrictions on the food your child can enjoy.

If you would like to find out more about Invisalign and it’s benefits, or to schedule an appointment to discuss your suitability for this treatment, please give our friendly and knowledgeable team a call at (562)-622-9223.