“Mom, Dad?”
“Yes, Jonathan?”
“I know when I went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago she mentioned that I may need braces, but high school is hard enough already without braces.”
“Well son, if you don’t get them now, the problem will just get worse.”
“I know that. Dad. I don’t mean I don’t want to do anything. I actually want to talk to you both about Invisalign. I heard about it on TV and I think it could really work for me.”
Have You had a Similar Conversation with Your Teenager?
If so, you need to learn the facts about Invisalign. While the nearly invisible alternative to traditional metal braces can work for some teens, it isn’t for everyone.
At Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics, we know that you care about your child’s dental and orthodontic health. We know you want to make an informed decision that will benefit your teenager. In this article we’re going to reveal 7 things all parents should know when considering Invisalign for teenagers.
1. It’s Normally a Great Braces Alternative for Teens with Mild to Moderate Issues
Invisalign actually makes a product exclusively for teens called Invisalign Teen. It’s normally a great alternative to braces for teenagers that have only mild to moderate crowding or spacing issues.
Obviously “mild to moderate” is a bit vague, which is why it’s impossible to know whether or not your teenager is a good candidate for Invisalign without scheduling a consultation (which you can do right here on our website).
Once we are able to evaluate your teen during his or her Invisalign consultation, we’ll be able to provide more details on treatment and recommend the specific type of Invisalign treatment that is best for your teenager (there are different “types” of Invisalign treatment).
2. Your Teenager Will Have to Make a Commitment
When it comes to the success or failure of Invisalign treatment for teenagers, compliance is essential. While some teenagers only have to wear their aligners for a few months, more often than not, it’s going to be somewhere between a 1-3 year commitment.
While you don’t have to wear your Invisalign aligners all the time (more on this below), it does require a bit of responsibility.
However, that’s a good thing! Nothing wrong with using Invisalign to teach your teenager a little more responsibility. They will be better off for it as an adult.
3. Aligners Must be Worn Most of the Time
One of the benefits of Invisalign aligners over traditional metal braces is that Invisalign aligners are removable. While that’s great, it can present a bit of a “catch 22” situation at times.
Your teenager must have the self-discipline to wear the aligners most of the time, understanding that if they don’t, they are only hurting themselves. At our orthodontics practices in Cumming, Suwanee, and Hamilton Mill, GA we recommend that teenagers wear their Invisalign aligners for 22 hours a day.
Yes, 22 hours is a lot, and in reality if your teenager falls a little short and only wears them for 20 or so hours per day, they will be fine. Again, Invisalign aligners are great for teenagers because they can take them out while eating, going on dates, going to prom, and things of that nature.
4. It Will Require Regular Visits to the Orthodontist
Most orthodontists (ourselves included) are going to want to see your child about every 6 weeks.
Each set of aligners is worn, on average, for about 2 weeks, so seeing an orthodontist every 6 weeks or so to check on your progress is very important.
Some parents may see this as a minor inconvenience, but at our practice we will schedule your child’s 6-week Invisalign checkups well in advance so you can adjust your schedule accordingly.
Our goal is to work with you and your teenager to be as efficient as possible with our time and yours, while providing your child with a great outcome for their Invisalign treatment.
5. It’s Not Always More Expensive Than Traditional Metal Braces (Hint: Affordable Monthly Payments)
A lot of parents don’t consider Invisalign because they’ve heard it is very expensive. While Invisalign was quite expensive when the treatment first came to market, that is no longer the case.
At Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics, we are often 20-40% lower than our competitor’s pricing, and will beat any price you are quoted from any of our local competitors by 5%.
We are committed to being the top Invisalign provider in the North Atlanta area, so if you are in the Cumming, Suwanee, or Hamilton Mill areas of Georgia, give our office a call. You’ll be surprised at how low (sometimes less than $100/month) our payments for Invisalign Teen treatment can be!
For more information on Invisalign Teen and what Invisalign for teenagers will cost, click the link below:
https://www.chattahoocheefamilyortho.com/invisalign-teen
6. Your Teen will Have More Confidence (Invisalign is “Cool” These Days)
It’s not fair, but metal braces can have a bit of a social stigma attached to them, especially during the teenage years.
This simply isn’t the case with Invisalign. The clear, invisible aligners are actually trendy, meaning your teenager probably won’t mind wearing them more often than not.
While I’m sure you aren’t too concerned whether your teen is “cool” or not, Invisalign certainly won’t hurt their self-esteem in the same way that traditional metal braces might.
7. It’s Worth It
As a parent, the most important thing to you is that your teenager is healthy and happy. Invisalign Teen accomplishes both of these goals by giving your child a healthier, straighter, and more confident smile.
We’ve yet to talk with a parent who regrets bringing their teenager in for an Invisalign consultation! The teenagers and parents get the result they want (straighter teeth) without having to wear traditional metal braces.
So What is the Next Step?
We hope the 7 points above have shed a little more light on the Invisalign treatment process for teenagers.
As mentioned above, the only way to know for certain whether or not your teenager is a candidate for Invisalign is to schedule a consultation with our orthodontist, Dr. Patrick Barnes.
Dr. Barnes is experienced in providing Invisalign treatment and recommendations to teenagers. If you would like to schedule your Invisalign consultation with Dr. Barnes at our Cumming, Suwanee, or Hamilton Mill location, please call us today or request your appointment on this page here.
Posted by Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics
