Your Guide to Teen Orthodontics

As a parent, choosing the right option for straightening your teenager’s teeth isn’t easy. Many teenagers have recently embraced wearing metal braces, however, both metal braces and Invisalign are effective at teeth alignment. Therefore, you should weigh the benefits of each to determine the right option for your teenager. Here is a brief guide to teen orthodontics.

Braces Vs. Invisalign

Braces are made of metal and attached outside the patient’s teeth. The braces have metal wires and rubber bands that help align the patient’s teeth.

Invisalign is made of a series of plastic aligners. These aligners are invisible and customized for each patient. The orthodontist will make a 3D scan of the patient’s mouth to get these aligners. The practitioner will make customized aligners that gradually adjust the patient’s teeth until they reach the correct position.

Benefits of Braces

There are several genuine advantages to beginning orthodontic treatment as a teenager, as this is when development is most active.

1. Suitable for A Variety of Problems

The sturdy and effective design of braces makes them suited for severe cases of teeth misalignment. Invisalign aligners may not be effective for severe crowding or impacted teeth. On the other hand, braces use specialized methods to align problem teeth.

Invisalign aligners don’t provide a sufficient grip for teeth that are in the wrong place. With braces, the metal wire is effective at drawing out misaligned teeth. The maximal grip of braces makes them a supplemental treatment for severe cases where Invisalign treatment cannot work.

2. Different Braces to Choose From

Braces aren’t limited to metal brackets and wires. The other standard options are lingual and ceramic braces. These options make a patient’s braces less noticeable. Therefore, if your teenager is concerned about the metal brace face, you can opt for these alternatives.

Lingual braces are also called incognito braces. These braces are bonded to the inside of the patient’s teeth. Consequently, this treatment is less visible from the outside.

Ceramic braces use the same technology as metal braces, but they use a clear or tooth-colored resin instead of metal. This allows them to blend with the patient’s teeth. Ceramic braces are also less visible than metal braces.

3. Not Easily Removed

One of the most significant benefits of braces is that they are permanently bonded to the patient’s teeth. This means they are moving the patient’s teeth all the time.

Invisalign is removable and should be worn for 22 hours a day. One drawback is that a patient can fall out of a good routine by, for instance, failing to put the aligners back in after eating. This is the reason some parents prefer braces because they don’t have to keep track of the time when their child’s aligners weren’t on. Additionally, they don’t have to worry about their child losing the appliance.

Benefits of Invisalign

Consider some additional advantages of choosing Invisalign for your teen.

1. Invisalign Looks Better

The greatest advantage of Invisalign for teens is that they are virtually invisible. Self-conscious teens love that their friends and classmates cannot see them undergoing alignment treatment. Therefore, your teenager doesn’t have to worry about people commenting about their braces. Furthermore, your child will not shy away from taking photos.

2. You Can Remove the Aligners to Eat

A patient cannot remove braces when eating, drinking, or engaging in recreational activities. Moreover, a patient with braces is restricted from eating hard foods. This is because these foods can damage the brackets.

On the other hand, a patient can remove aligners anytime they want. However, Invisalign needs to be worn for 22 hours a day. Also, there are no limitations on what a patient should eat while on Invisalign treatment. Therefore, your teenager can enjoy their favorite foods. Additionally, since a patient can remove Invisalign aligners, it is easier for them to brush and floss as they did previously.

3. A Powerful Orthodontic Tool

Invisalign treatment involves wearing a set of aligners for two weeks. The patient replaces this set in the following week. Typically, your orthodontist will give your child several sets of aligners in advance. This means you only have to take them to the orthodontist after three months to collect the next set of aligners. In contrast, braces patients must visit their orthodontist every 1-2 months for adjustments. The brace wires are tightened during these appointments to keep the treatment progressing.

Additionally, Invisalign treatment takes less time than braces. Many patients wear aligners for only one year. With advanced technological materials and attachments, Invisalign has proven to move teeth faster and provides better predictability than other aligners.When deciding between braces and Invisalign treatment for your teenager, it would help to conduct thorough research. It is essential to consider what is most convenient for your child. Therefore, factor in your teenager’s activities and also their main concerns. While both methods treat misalignment, one treatment may be more suited for your teenager over the other.

Consult an orthodontist in San Francisco, CA, for advice on the most appropriate orthodontic treatment for your teenager.