My Teen Refuses to Have Braces - What Do I Do?

Very few of us are born with pearly straight teeth which means that most of us have to undergo orthodontic treatment if we want to enhance our smile and improve our oral health. When I had orthodontic treatment many years ago, the only option was traditional metal braces and many of my friends had braces at the same time so it wasn’t so bad. Granted, just because I was in a group of friends all sporting braces didn’t make life much easier! But after a couple of years, I looked in the mirror and was thankful my teeth were straight and the entire process was well worth it.

Today’s orthodontic industry is completely different from when I had braces. Now, there are more discreet and comfortable techniques used to straighten teeth (yes there’s more options than traditional metal braces), and some treatments are virtually invisible to others. For the many teenagers who need orthodontic treatment but refuse to have braces, there are options which are equally effective and roughly the same in price as traditional metal braces. To give you some insight, today we’ll be focussing our article on one of the most reliable substitutes to braces that are far more appealing and easier to manage.

Introducing Invisalign Teen ®

Invisalign Teen is a new orthodontic treatment which uses a series of clear, plastic aligners as opposed to metal braces. Much the same as a super thin mouthguard, Invisalign Teen aligners are practically invisible to others so patients can undergo orthodontic treatment without anyone noticing. Your teen simply wears the aligners over their teeth and substitutes for a new set of aligners every week or two. Little by little, your teen's teeth will align into the desired position and achieve a healthy and confident smile.

A common problem for patients who have braces is that they find it hard to maintain good oral health simply because it's difficult to clean their mouth properly with brackets stuck to their teeth. Consequently, some patients will develop cavities and experience tooth demineralisation which transpires when plaque sucks the mineral out of the tooth's enamel.

A huge advantage with Invisalign Teen is that the clear aligners can be conveniently removed when cleaning their mouth and eating, meaning they have no problems maintaining good oral health. At the same time, Invisalign Teen patients don't have the same food constraints as those who have braces. Bring on the candy and soda at movie night!

Is Invisalign Teen as reliable as traditional metal braces?

For patients that wear their aligners for the proposed timeframe, Invisalign has demonstrated to be equally successful as traditional metal braces for most teeth straightening problems. Invisalign is suitable for treating mild to severe orthodontic conditions such as crowding, crooked teeth, overbite, underbite, and gaps between teeth. Most teen patients are suitable candidates for Invisalign Teen, but to find out for certain, make an appointment with your family orthodontist who will assess your teen's needs.

How often does my teenager need to wear the aligners?

Patients using Invisalign Teen are required to wear their aligners for about 20 to 22 hours on a daily basis, which gives them enough time for eating and cleaning their teeth. If you're anxious that your teen won't wear their aligners as recommended, each Invisalign Teen aligner has a blue dot indicator which fades when the aligners are worn for the ideal timeframe. As a result, most teenagers will comply with their orthodontists' guidelines and wear their aligners for the proposed amount of time each day.

How much does Invisalign Teen cost?

Invisalign Teen generally costs the same as traditional metal braces but remember that the cost of treatment is dependent on the intricacy of the orthodontic condition. If you have health insurance with orthodontic cover, you should be permitted to a rebate. Most orthodontic clinics offer flexible and economical monthly plans the same as they do with traditional metal braces, all you need to do is ask!

It's understandable that some teens don't want to be burdened with braces to attain a healthy and confident smile, so Invisalign Teen is a superb alternative that is more appealing, discreet, comfortable, and easier to manage. With a variety of advantages over traditional metal braces and being just as reliable at straightening teeth, why not enquire today? Give the staff at Clear Smiles Orthodontics a call on 07 5593 3733 to book a free initial consultation.