Invisalign Teen straightens teeth with a series of clear, custom-made aligners instead of brackets and wires. Each set gently moves the teeth a little at a time, and because the aligners are nearly invisible, most people won't notice your teen is in treatment.
The aligners come out for eating, drinking anything but water, and brushing, so teens can keep enjoying their favorite foods.
At Plymouth Orthodontics, we'll let you know if Invisalign Teen is a good fit for your teen's smile.
Clear aligners only work when they're worn. Teens should wear their aligners about 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat, drink and brush.
Invisalign Teen aligners can include small blue indicators that fade with wear, which helps parents and our team see how consistently the aligners are being worn. Every week or two, your teen switches to the next set in the series.
Invisalign Teen works well for many common problems, including crowding, spacing and many bite issues. It's a great match for teens who are ready to keep track of their aligners and wear them consistently. If braces would work better for your teen's smile, we'll explain why. You can also compare options on our Comprehensive Treatment page.
Invisalign Teen straightens teeth with a series of clear, removable aligners made just for your teen's smile. Each set of aligners moves the teeth a small amount, and your teen switches to the next set about every one to two weeks.
Aligners come out only to eat, drink anything other than water, brush and floss. Your teen will visit us every several weeks so we can check progress and hand off the next sets.
Aligners need to be worn about 20 to 22 hours a day to work as planned. That means wearing them at school, during sleep and pretty much everywhere except meals and brushing.
If aligners are left out too often, teeth won't keep up with the plan and treatment can take longer. A simple routine, like putting the aligners back in right after brushing, makes a big difference.
For many teens, Invisalign and braces take about the same amount of time. The biggest factor is wear time: a teen who wears aligners as directed usually finishes on schedule, while missed hours add time.
The amount of crowding and the bite correction needed also affect the timeline. We'll give you an estimate for both options at your consultation.
Yes. Because aligners come out for meals, there are no food restrictions like there are with braces. Popcorn, chips and chewy foods are all fine.
The important part is to brush or at least rinse before putting the aligners back in, so food and sugar aren't trapped against the teeth. Only plain water should be sipped while wearing aligners.
Call our office. Depending on where your teen is in treatment, we may have them move to the next aligner or go back to the previous one while a replacement is made. Don't wait until the next appointment, since going without aligners lets teeth start to shift.
The most common way aligners get lost is wrapped in a napkin at lunch, so always using the case is a good habit.
Not always. Invisalign can treat most common problems, including crowding, gaps and many bite issues, but some complex cases are better handled with braces. Success also depends on the teen wearing the aligners consistently.
At your teen's consultation, we'll check whether clear aligners can get the best result and talk honestly about whether braces might be the better fit.
Aligners are smooth plastic with no wires or brackets, so they're comfortable for most teens. It's normal to feel some pressure for a day or two when switching to a new set, which shows the aligners are working.
Switching aligners at bedtime lets your teen sleep through most of that pressure.
Rinse the aligners whenever they come out and gently brush them with a soft toothbrush and cool water or a clear, mild soap at least once a day. Avoid hot water, which can warp the plastic.
Always brush your teeth before putting the aligners back in, and keep them in their case whenever they're not being worn.
The best way to learn what orthodontic treatment could do for you or your child is to schedule a complimentary initial exam. We will determine the best course of treatment and answer all your questions. Book your initial appointment online now using the link below, or just simply call our office.
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