Is Invisalign Right for My Teenager?

A great smile is one of the first things people notice about you and plays a big part in forming those first impressions. For many teens, orthodontic treatment is something of a rite of passage. But today’s teenagers have far more options than their parents did when creating those perfect smiles. 

Brianna Davydov, DDS, Yev Davydov, DDS, and Gregory Shank, DDS, are proud to offer Invisalign® through Chroma Dental, giving families in the Midtown East community in New York City, New York, yet another choice in outstanding orthodontic care. But Invisalign isn’t always the right fit for everyone. Here’s some information to help you make the best choice for your teen. 

Here is where Invisalign truly shines

Invisalign treatment involves wearing clear plastic aligners with a tight fit over your teeth. You remove the trays while eating and taking care of your dental hygiene, then rinse them off and pop them right back in. This step makes it easier to keep up with proper brushing and flossing, and there’s no need to work your toothbrush around the corners of brackets and floss beneath the wires. 

You switch to a new set of aligners every few weeks to keep things moving. Periodic office visits ensure your treatment plan is on track.   

Invisalign has a lot of benefits, and at first glance, it might seem like the perfect fit for your teenager. Treatment timelines tend to be shorter than traditional metal braces, and fewer office visits are needed as you move through the process. 

Invisalign is also more comfortable than the metal brackets and wires used in traditional braces (although those components are far better than what was available a couple of decades ago). There’s also no need to schedule extra visits to repair or replace broken brackets and wires. There are even clear and ceramic brackets available.  

Perhaps the best selling point of Invisalign and other clear aligner orthodontic solutions is that you can straighten your smile without the glitter and gleam of metal braces. Most people won’t even notice you’re wearing your Invisalign trays. 

Invisalign also comes with challenges

The tradeoff for all these benefits is one word: compliance. The only way Invisalign can work is when your teen wears the trays as prescribed, essentially around the clock. 

Every time your teen switches to a new set of trays, there is a period of discomfort. The trays put minute degrees of pressure on your teeth to shift them into alignment, just like the wires in traditional metal braces. The difference is that your teen can ease that discomfort by simply not putting their aligners back in.

Metal braces force compliance because the wire gets affixed to the brackets, and removing it is not a simple task, which means your teen has to adjust to a couple of days of soreness as the metal braces do their job. So, if you suspect your child won't adhere to the Invisalign protocol, the treatment timeline can be longer than initially estimated.  

Choosing between Invisalign and metal braces

No one knows your child better than you, so you probably already know what is the right option for your teenager. The best way to make an informed decision is to sit down and discuss the pros and cons of each option, as well as what to expect in terms of the treatment process and timeline. 

Being fully informed about orthodontic treatment is an essential component of success. If you need help deciding which path to take, the team at Chroma Dental is always here to help. Call the office to schedule a consultation or book a visit online in moments. You and your teen will have the chance to discuss each option in detail and ask any questions. 

Contact the Chroma Dental team to book a consultation. You can schedule online any time or call during business hours to speak with a friendly administrative staff member.