4 Signs Your Child Might be a Good Candidate for Invisalign

Does your child or teenager require some orthodontic work to correct crooked teeth or a misaligned bite? Here’s everything you need to know about Invisalign for kids and some signs that your child is ready for this dental treatment.

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If your child requires orthodontic treatment, you could be deciding between traditional braces or Invisalign. Although both are designed to straighten your child’s teeth, improve their smile, and boost oral health, there are certain key differences between them. 

While braces are more efficient at fixing complex issues, Invisalign works well for mild cases of crooked teeth, gapped teeth, and certain cases involving malocclusion, overbite, and underbite. If you are considering Invisalign for your child or teenager, the treatment offers numerous benefits over traditional metal braces, including: 

• Enhanced comfort and aesthetic appearance 
• They can be removed when necessary
• No limitations on what your child can eat 
• Easier to brush and floss teeth 
• A more personalized fit
• Elimination of any guesswork for more predictable results 

While Invisalign is an excellent option for many children and teenagers, it is not suitable for everyone. During a consultation with your family dentist, he/she can assess your child’s teeth, needs, and level of maturity to determine which orthodontic treatment is right for them. 

Our Calgary Family Dentists Offer Customized Invisalign Treatments 

At our Calgary dental clinic, our holistic dentists offer a range of dental treatments for your whole family including teeth whitening, wisdom tooth removal, emergency dental care, and customized Invisalign treatments. 

Whatever your dental health care needs, we’ll create a comprehensive solution that will help you achieve total oral and overall well-being. 

Want to know more? Contact Us Today!

4 Signs Your Child is a Good Candidate for an Invisalign Treatment 

Is your child ready for orthodontic treatment? The first and most important step is to book an appointment with your family dentist. During this consultation, your dentist can assess your child’s teeth and oral health and help determine which option — traditional braces or Invisalign — is best. 

To get you started, here are four signs that your teenager might be a good candidate for Invisalign: 

1. They Have Mild to Moderate Dental Issues 

Invisalign works well for most dental issues, but it is not designed to correct severe problems. If your child has a large issue, such as an overbite, traditional metal braces might be a more effective solution. 

However, Invisalign can work well to correct: 

• Protruding teeth 
• Mild to moderate overbites and underbites
• Any gaps in the teeth 
• Overcrowded teeth 
• Mildly crooked teeth 

In cases of severe oral issues, Invisalign is not recommended. This is because in such situations, the jawbone might need to be shifted and these aligners are not able to correct bone issues. 

4 THINGS ABOUT INVISALIGN EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW 

2. Your Child Has All Their Permanent Teeth 

In order for your child to be a good candidate for Invisalign, they must have all their permanent teeth. In addition to this, older teens often make the best candidates for this treatment because their jaws have stopped growing. 

During a consultation with your family dentist, he/she can examine your child’s teeth and determine if it’s the right time to get started on this orthodontic treatment. Most of the time, it is recommended that your child begins wearing these aligners when they’re in high school. 

3. Your Child is Responsible and Mature 

Invisalign only works if your child wears them for at least 22 hours a day. They will need to remember to remove the aligners for meals and put them back in immediately afterward. If your child doesn’t wear the aligners as required, then the results will not be satisfactory. 

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to determine if your child is responsible enough for Invisalign: 

• How good are they at remembering small tasks?
• How committed are they to getting straight teeth? 
• Is your child responsible with their possessions or do they misplace things frequently? 
• Does your child understand the importance of taking a little trouble in the short term to enjoy long-term benefits? 

If you answered yes to the above questions, then your child may be mature enough to begin an Invisalign treatment.

5 WAYS TO GET THE BEST INVISALIGN RESULTS 

4. They Have Good Oral Health 

One of the requirements for an Invisalign treatment is that your child has good oral health. They must be free of any issues such as cavities or other dental diseases and must practice good dental hygiene at home before being considered for this procedure. 

Not only must your child’s mouth be healthy, but they must also know how to take care of their Invisalign trays to avoid any infections or further issues. 

Give us a Call Today

If you are considering your child’s orthodontic treatment options, our team of Calgary holistic dentists can answer any questions you have. We will evaluate your child’s teeth and oral health to determine if they are a candidate for Invisalign and we can customize a treatment plan that will meet all their needs. 

To find out more, contact our Calgary dental clinic at 403-245-9099 or fill in our online contact form.

 

FAQs 

Q. How long is an Invisalign treatment? While every patient and case is different, in most cases, an Invisalign treatment time is between 12-18 months. During this time, your teenager will have to switch their aligners every two weeks and make regular visits to the dentist every six weeks. 

Q. Are there any diet restrictions with Invisalign? One of the greatest benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners can be removed when your teen eats, allowing them to enjoy all their favourite foods and drinks. Make sure they don’t drink any hot beverages while wearing the aligners because this can warp the plastic and affect the comfort and fit of the aligners.

Q. How do you clean the aligners? It’s very important that your child keeps their aligners clean to reduce their chance of infection or developing tooth decay. To clean the aligners, gently brush them with some water and a normal toothbrush. For a more thorough clean, you may soak the aligners in a cleansing denture solution. Make sure that your teen always brushes their teeth before putting the aligners back on!