Invisalign are clear aligners made of flexible plastic material. They are applied to misaligned teeth to straighten them and align them in an aesthetic manner. Although almost everyone can opt for these Invisalign aligners, let us try to understand if they are suitable for teenagers.
Understanding aligners
Invisalign aligners are applied to the teeth to straighten them and align them as needed. It makes the smile appear even and polished. Crooked teeth can be fixed this way and these are the most preferred aligners out of all the options available. The invisible appearance is the reason for its popularity and high demand. Also, they are very comfortable to wear since they do not have metallic content and brackets. These are made of flexible plastic material, specifically known as SmartTrack.
These aligners work by gently pushing the teeth back into their place with help of gentle pressure. With each passing day, the teeth start realigning in their designated position.
The exact procedure involves creating a model of teeth using a software. This software helps create a plan of placing the Invisalign on the teeth according to their shape and structure. Such planning ensures that the Invisalign aligners are created according to the patient’s measurements and fit perfectly.
These aligners are supposed to be worn for the whole day and removed at night. They are also removed during eating, drinking, and while playing sports or during any other physical activity. These aligners are supposed to be replaced after usage of 2 weeks. This is done because the aligners usually undergo a lot of wear and tear because of daily usage. They usually lose their effect and become malleable.
The aligners usually take around a year to show the full result of perfectly aligned teeth. However, the patient can also start observing its effects within a couple of weeks.
Pros of Invisalign
Being the most preferable kind of aligners present, this Invisalign has a lot of pros. The first one is that they are next to invisible, as the name suggests. This quality of these aligners makes them a popular choice among patients of all ages.
They do not affect the appearance negatively like traditional braces do. This causes the patient to feel good about himself and leads to a rise in self-esteem.
No irritation is also another major benefit of clear Invisalign. Again, traditional braces are very uncomfortable to wear because they have metallic components as well as brackets that may hurt. Also, the Invisalign is made of a flexible material so it can easily be adjusted in the mouth and will not cause any harm to the soft gum tissue if the patient experiences injury of any kind.
Customization is also available for Invisalign aligners. These can be made to fit the exact measurement of teeth with the help of modern technology and various software. This sort of customization is not available for braces, veneers, and other dental treatments available for teeth straightening.
Cons of Invisalign
Although a very popular choice, Invisalign does have some minor cons.
The pricing of the Invisalign may not be very attractive. Perhaps the good quality, comfort, and the invisibility factor may add to its high price. Although very much wanted, this procedure’s pricing makes it hard to procure.
Usually, aligners have attachments, which are visible from the outside. This can also affect the appearance of the patient negatively. These attachments are very similar to brackets attached to braces. Also, these attachments may be as visible as brackets in braces. Many patients may not like this look because it can make the patient look like they are wearing actual braces.
Invisalign aligners require proper and regular cleaning. The Invisalign is supposed to be cleaned after wearing and before putting them back in their case. Also, the teeth have to be brushed each time and the Invisalign has to be rinsed thoroughly before wearing it. Many patients do not want to bother with schedules of cleaning due to its time-consuming nature. Braces have an advantage over this situation as they do not require regular cleaning.
Invisalign requires the patient to wear them all the day and are supposed to be removed only during night-time and during meals. Many patients may find the cover-like structure of Invisalign uncomfortable and cannot tolerate it all day.
The cleanliness factor may also be annoying for some patients. Both Invisalign and the teeth need to be brushed and cleaned multiple times throughout the day. Not to mention, Invisalign also requires a deep cleaning with a cleansing solution every week or so to avoid bacterial accumulation.
It may be time to rethink your decision of getting Invisalign if any of these factors worry you.
Is it suitable for teenagers?
As previously mentioned, Invisalign is a very popular choice among patients of all age groups. Particularly teenagers are very conscious about their appearance, therefore, most of them prefer getting Invisalign rather than getting braces.
Dentists also suggest that Invisalign can be worn by teen patients of ages 13-18.
Medically, Invisalign requires a specific amount of orthodontic tissue to cling on. So if a sufficient amount of it is available then there is no problem in wearing Invisalign even if the patient is a teenager.
However, Invisalign requires a lot of attention and care. They have to be cleaned regularly and sometime deep cleaning is also required. A cleansing solution is provided which has to be used as per instructions given. And, before wearing the Invisalign again, the teeth have to be brushed. If the teen is comfortable in maintaining such hygiene practices and can regularly practice them, then Invisalign may be a very good choice.
Since Invisalign has little to no effect on appearance, the teen can confidently wear it without any fear of being picked on. Also, Invisalign align teeth back slowly but surely, so the teen will ultimately gain confidence and end up feeling good about themselves and their appearance.
