If your teenager needs orthodontic treatment, you are probably weighing two options. It can be metal braces or clear aligners. Metal braces have been around forever and feel like a safe and familiar choice. Aligners are newer, less familiar, and come up with a lot of questions.
This blog answers all of them. Read along!
What are clear aligners?
Clear aligners are a series of custom-made, plastic trays that fit over their teeth comfortably. The series altogether gradually shifts the teeth into alignment.
- They wear each tray for about 1-2 weeks
- The whole treatment can last anywhere from 6- 18 months. It depends on how much movement the teeth need.
- The trays are removable. Taken out for drinking anything other than water and brushing. The recommended wear time is 20-22 hours a day.
What makes them different from braces is simple. There are no metal brackets or wires, no sharp edges that pinch on the inside of the cheek. It is just a thin clear tray that most people won’t even notice.
Are they suitable for teenagers?
This is a fair question. Teenagers have their teeth still maturing. In some cases, the back teeth are still coming through during the treatment. This might make parents wonder if this is a straightforward option for younger patients.
This has changed. Most aligner providers now have teenager specific versions. They include compliance indicators or small blue dots on the trays. They fade with wear.
Aligners can address the same issues in teenagers that they address in adults:
- Crowded teeth
- Gaps
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
Some complex cases may still call for metal braces along with aligners. Your orthodontist will tell you that clearly after a proper assessment.
The confidence side of aligners
Teenagers are at an age where how they look matters more to them. This is not superficial; it is developmental. They don’t want to go a year or more with a mouth full of metal, answering questions and comments from classmates. This is one of the reasons this treatment gets delayed or avoided altogether.
Aligners are transparent. In normal social settings like classrooms, sports or photographs- the aligner trays are extremely difficult to see.
A teenager who feels comfortable and confident is a teenager who will actually wear their aligners consistently. And consistency is everything.
Aligners come with a lot of responsibilities
- Do your research
- Before deciding, do thorough research on different providers. There are many providers in the market, but not everybody delivers good results.
- Look at the certifications, case studies, and testimonials. Like Illusion Aligners Teen is a very common name in conversations about safe clear aligners for teenagers. They are FDA 510k cleared and chosen by over a million people. Their teen specific range is for children between 11-18 years of age.
- Discipline matters
- Aligners will work only if they wear them consistently. The 20–22-hour rule is important. Leaving them out too often will slow down the progress or even undo it.
- Adjustment may take time
- There’s a short adjustment period. Most teenagers notice a slight lisp in the first few days.
- It usually goes away within a week as they get used to the trays.
- Keep them clean
- Teach them to rinse their aligners every morning and night. A clean aligner means fresh breath and no staining.
- Do not forget a retainer for them
- Once their treatment is complete, they’ll need to wear a retainer. Especially at night. This keeps their teeth from slowly shifting back.
Bring your teenager into decision
The best outcomes happen when teenagers choose aligners rather than you choose them.
Before booking a consultation, talk to your child. Find out what they want, what they are worried about, and whether they feel ready for responsibility. Then go ahead for a consultation. Let them ask their own questions.
A teenager who is invested in the process will wear their trays, take crae of them and see the treatment through.
One who feels that it was imposed on them will find every reason not to be compliant. Whether your child is ready is ready and willing for the treatment is what determines the outcome.
