Teenagers make up a significant portion of Invisalign orthodontic patients. However, with standard Invisalign aligners, many teens run into some problems specifically related to just being a teenager!
With Invisalign Teen, the makers of Invisalign seek to address the unique needs of today’s busy teens.
Here’s how they approached it:
Compliance Indicators
Invisalign Teen aligners feature small blue dots that fade away after a full two weeks of wear.
How does this help teens in particular?
On average, teenage Invisalign patients tend to be less compliant with their treatment schedule than adult patients are. This means that they are more likely to remove their aligners more frequently, and for longer intervals than prescribed by their orthodontists.
As a result, it can be difficult to keep track of how much longer they are supposed to wear a given set of aligners. The compliance indicators can help to remedy this issue because they will only fade away once the aligners have been worn for a full two weeks worth of time, making it easier for teens to get back on track.
Eruption Tabs
Invisalign Teen can be prescribed for younger teenagers whose adult teeth are not quite done erupting, thanks to the addition of eruption tabs. These tabs leave space in the aligners for the teeth to finish growing in.
Replacement Aligners
Teenagers are at a greater risk of losing or damaging their aligners. This is in part due to the fact that they may take them out more often than their adult counterparts, and leave them out longer. Invisalign Teen comes with replacement aligners so that if a set of aligners is damaged, treatment can continue without missing a beat!
How will Invisalign Teen affect your child?
Invisalign Teen offers all the same benefits as standard Invisalign. This means that bite issues can still be corrected and crowded and crooked teeth can be evened out on top of the extra features listed above.
With the help of Invisalign Teen, your teenager may be able to achieve a straighter smile, which can lead to more confidence in their daily life. Thanks to the fact that aligners are removable, they won't experience a huge change in their habits. While they may have to be more vigilant with brushing and flossing, your teen should not experience any significant inconveniences.