Invisalign can be an effective treatment alternative for some patients because everyone has different needs, this is especially true for teens. Our Langley Straight Smile dentists explain how Invisalign Teen's eruption tabs may help your child's growing smile.
What Is Invisalign Teen?
Just like standard Invisalign, Invisalign Teen involves a series of clear, BPA-free plastic, removable aligners.
The Invisalign procedure starts by using our iTero scanner to take a quick, comfortable scan of your teenager’s teeth and gums. A 3D model of your child’s mouth is created from the scans and your dentist makes a detailed treatment plan. They can also show you what your teen’s smile may look like when treatment is over before you even get started. A series of custom, clear aligners are created based on your dentist's specifications. Your teen will wear their aligners for about 20 to 22 hours every day and change to a new set every one to two weeks, depending on their treatment plan. As they go through the series of Invisalign Teen aligners, their teeth will shift little by little into their new positions.
Benefits of Invisalign Teen
Much like traditional braces with metal brackets and wires, clear plastic aligners apply pressure to teeth and help them shift into alignment. The user wears each set of aligners for a couple weeks before moving on to a new set. The end result, hopefully, is an even smile.
Consider some of the other benefits of selecting Invisalign for your teen.
- They Are Removable
- May Help Boost Teens Self Confidence
- Generally Reported To Cause Less Irritation
- They Offer Fewer Emergencies Since They Don't Have Wires
Features of Invisalign Teen
- Compliance Indicators - So you know they are being used.
- Eruption Tabs - Allow for molar growth.
- Replacement Trays - For Forgetful or clumsy teens.
What Are Eruption Tabs?
Invisalign Teen aligners come with “eruption tabs” that allow space for second molars to come in. Another great benefit to eruption tabs is that they also help align the molars as they grow. This prevents the molars from becoming crooked or growing too far into the opposite molar’s space.
Why Would Eruption Tabs Be Important?
Your child or teen's mouth is still developing so it is important to allow for growth and change because if their orthodontic treatment does not allow for it, there will be complications to their treatment which could prolong the process or require more extensive orthodontic work in the future.
For a more seamless experience, your dentist may find that Invisalign teen is the right choice for your child's developing smile.