Is Invisalign Right For Your Child?

Over 8 million people have selected Invisalign® to straighten their teeth, but is this advantage in orthodontic technology the best straightening option for your child? Dr. Cliff Broschinsky and our experienced care team at Avalon Dental can help you decide.

Teeth with spacing issues and crooked teeth can lead to dental complications like infections or gingivitis. The result? Gum disease and other oral problems that can threaten your child’s overall health. 

At Avalon Dental, as part of our comprehensive line of dental services, we offer Invisalign for patients in San Ramon, California, and the East Bay who are hoping to improve the appearance of their child’s smile and overall oral health.

Read on to learn the four main factors to consider when deciding whether Invisalign is right for your child!

What work does your child’s smile need?

Invisalign corrects a broad range of smile issues. It can work to fix crooked teeth, overcrowded teeth, and smiles with gaps, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites.

Invisalign aligners are a great option for many children and teens, but it isn’t the right orthodontic choice for everyone. If your child’s teeth need complex corrections, more involved treatments may be required.

Is your child the right age?

Older teens and young adults are great candidates for Invisalign, which offers a way to straighten their teeth without a mouthful of metal. But if your child is a younger teen or preteen, it’s likely they are still undergoing too much growth for the Invisalign teeth straightening system to work effectively. Dr. Broschinsky evaluates your child’s growth to make this determination. 

Can your child commit to wearing Invisalign?

Invisalign dental aligners are easy to use but require patients to wear them for most of the day (20-22 hours). So while they aren’t difficult to use, it does take serious commitment to keep the aligners in most of the day for the duration of treatment.

If your child doesn’t wear the aligners as prescribed, Invisalign can’t properly move and straighten their teeth. If you don’t believe your child can fully commit to wearing Invisalign as directed, other orthodontic options that don’t offer the opportunity to remove them — or forget to put them back in — may be a better solution. 

Does your child need flexibility?

If your child plays sports or has an especially busy schedule, Invisalign could be a good option because of the flexibility the aligners offer. Invisalign aligners can be removed for sports games, and they only require in-office appointments every 6-8 weeks, so your child’s schedule is interrupted less frequently. 

With Invisalign, your child doesn’t need to change their brushing and flossing routine. They only need to remove their aligners to brush and floss their teeth normally. Plus they can eat many foods that become off-limits for patients with traditional braces because they can remove Invisalign aligners at mealtimes.

How can I learn more about Invisalign for my child?

If you’re considering teeth straightening with Invisalign for your child, it’s important to schedule an evaluation with experienced and trained dental professionals. The team at Avalon Dental first evaluates your child’s orthodontic needs. If they’re a good candidate for Invisalign, we create a customized treatment plan for your child.

Your child’s treatment begins with a series of X-rays, pictures, and impressions of their teeth and mouth. We send their dental information to the Invisalign laboratories, where a series of aligners are made just for your child. 

If you’re ready to learn more about Invisalign and whether or not it’s a good tooth-straightening option for your child, call or schedule a visit with Dr. Broschinsky and the team at Avalon Dental!