Three Things to Consider If Your Teen Wants Invisalign

Posted on October 23, 2020

If your teen needs braces, it may be for cosmetic or health-related reasons. Regardless of the reason for orthodontic treatment, your teen may be concerned about the aesthetic appearance that comes along with straightening their teeth. Although you may initially be inclined to move immediately towards metal braces, you should also consider the possibility of getting Invisalign braces for your teenager depending on their treatment needs. While many of us associate Invisalign with adults, this advanced technology is also available for teenagers. In fact, these types of clear aligners are specifically called Invisalign Teen. While they may not be the right choice for every teenager, they do work for many. With that being said, let’s look into some of the different factors to consider before deciding about these types of braces for your child.

1. Confidence

The big difference between Invisalign braces and traditional braces is in the appearance of the braces. When it comes to teenagers, Invisalign aligners may help with their confidence while undergoing treatment. Traditional braces are prominent due to their metallic structures. They also cannot be removed easily. Your teenager may feel as if their traditional braces stand out, whereas Invisalign aligners are essentially impossible for the naked eye to see unless you are looking at them closely. It is no wonder that 47% of Invisalign Teen users reported having their confidence boosted by their aligners, compared to just 27% of teens with traditional braces.

2. Responsibility

How responsible is your teen? It doesn’t matter if you have the best orthodontist in the world at your disposal. If your teen is not responsible enough to take care of their clear aligners, it will not matter. Your orthodontist will fit the aligners for your teen, apply them, and take care of checkups and any issues that may come up with the Invisalign trays. However, they cannot force your teen to take care of their aligners at home. The same thing does apply to traditional braces as well. Teens need to cut certain types of food out of their diet when wearing traditional braces because that food tends to get caught in their brackets. But clear aligners have other care requirements at hand. Teens must remove their clear aligners when they eat but then they must put them back on in a timely manner for the aligners to work effectively. For that matter, clear aligners will need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Some teenagers just are not responsible enough for this kind of upkeep and you need to have a serious conversation with them before investing in Invisalign aligners.

3. Cost

Speaking of investment, it is not incorrect to assume that clear aligners often cost a little more than traditional braces. Depending on your insurance plan, your orthodontist, and the needs of your teen, Invisalign aligners could be around $1,000 more than traditional braces. Either way, your teen will have straight teeth in the end if the braces are correctly utilized. It is important to discuss with your teen that this is an investment and weigh their arguments against the cost of the Invisalign aligners. For that matter check to see if your Orthodontist has financing options.

The reasoning behind why you will decide for or against Invisalign aligners may depend on what your teen wants, what you want, or a combination of both. But you shouldn’t dismiss them outright. At the minimum ask your Baton Rouge orthodontist about Invisalign and braces pros and cons!