At SoCO Smiles Orthodontics, we are excited to welcome the newest generation of patients into our practice and set the tone of oral health treatment for years to come. We’ve been honored to witness countless smile transformations take place among our younger patients, and Invisalign is a major tool in this process. Invisalign can be extremely effective for kids because their mouths are still forming and can be easily adjusted and changed to set them up for long-term success.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a cutting-edge treatment that uses a series of clear aligners that are adjusted over time to give your child a healthy smile that will last. It may be used to prevent small issues from getting more serious or to tackle more complex problems with ease.
These aligners are printed in a special material that will provide extra comfort to your child so that they won’t even be able to tell that they’re wearing them. Throughout treatment, they will receive a set of aligners every two weeks that has been tweaked slightly from their last set to move their teeth little by little. Their teeth will receive constant pressure until they’re finally in the correct position for your kid’s dream smile.
How Is Invisalign for Kids Different than Invisalign for Adults?
Our doctors are most concerned with treating a patient rather than just a smile. We always want to consider what treatments will best serve them now or further in the future. If it is decided that moving forward with Invisalign is the right decision for the health of your child, we will guide your family through the beginning steps of Phase I treatment to make the process as easy as possible.
Invisalign for Kids is crafted with your child’s growing mouth in mind, and it is well suited to meet the orthodontic needs of a patient whose teeth and jaw are still forming. The slight adjustments that are made through the process also take into account that the size of your child’s mouth is changing as well. This is a great stage to address small issues that could grow more complex before their teenage years.
What Are the Benefits of Invisalign?
While a removable appliance may sound concerning when you consider how easy it is for your kid to lose their toys, kids are actually more likely to have success with clear aligners than adults. This is because they are more adaptable to change and are less likely to notice and take their aligners out more than they’re supposed to.
When they do take their aligners out, they get to enjoy all of their favorite treats without any dietary restrictions standing in their way. While in braces, there are a few foods patients have to avoid to protect their appliance. Invisalign, however, is easily removed and put back in, so there is no threat of any food damaging the aligners and setting back treatment progress.
Emergency appointments can be stressful and inconvenient, especially if your child has a broken bracket poking at their gums and causing pain. Luckily, Invisalign is printed using a durable thermoplastic that would be very difficult for your child to break. If something did happen to the aligners, all you have to do is remove the Invisalign and contact our office so we can get you a new pair. Eliminating emergencies gives your family and child the freedom to enjoys painless treatment.
We completely understand that it can be difficult for your child to get into a good routine of flossing and brushing their teeth consistently. As they develop these good habits, it can be extra challenging for them to attempt to brush around brackets and wires. With Invisalign, they can easily brush and floss as they normally would without anything outside factors.
How Should My Child Care for Their Invisalign Aligners?
Taking care of Invisalign aligners is so easy your child can do it all on their own. Every time they remove their aligners to brush their teeth, they should take their toothbrush and warm water to scrub out the inside and out outside of their Invisalign. This will help disinfect their appliance and avoid the spread of harmful bacteria to their freshly cleaned teeth.
Can My Child Still Participate in Sports?
Of course! Sports can play a huge role in a child’s life, and we want them to work toward a dream smile while scoring goals that will make the audience smile. Invisalign is unique in the way that it can serve as a mouthguard and protects your child’s teeth from harm if their face is hit. There’s no real possibility that the appliance could be damaged during a game or practice, but if they feel more comfortable playing without it, they can remove their aligners entirely. However, they have to put the aligner back in as soon as they’re done, so treatment isn’t slowed.
